By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Commission on Monday approved two railroad crossing improvements, one on Airport Road, the other on Kiowa Road just south of Highway 56 east of Great Bend. The Kansas Department of Transportation is paying for both improvements. County Engineer Barry McManaman explained why County Commissioners still needed to approve the projects.
"The County is asked to sign as a third party simply because we maintain the signing and the markings on these railroad crossings," McManaman noted.
McManaman said that County crews maintain advanced warning signs on Kiowa Road as well as pavement markings and signs on Airport Road. By approving the plan, the Commissioners are agreeing to continue that maintenance.
Commissioner Jennifer Schartz asked if the work on Airport Road could be completed without closing the road. McManaman explained why KDOT officials have asked to close the road for a couple of days while the work is completed.
"They want to raise that crossing on Airport Road because it's kind of a dip now, and it's awful hard to raise a crossing half at a time and get those two sides to come in nicely together," McManaman said.
No start date has been set for either project.