Aug 02, 2022

Kansas brick streets are costly but last 80+ years

Posted Aug 02, 2022 1:12 PM
Hays Public Works employees used 3,000 bricks to replace the concrete street repair previously made in the 1100 block of Oak Street. Although more expensive than concrete, the bricks age better. Some bricks on downtown Hays streets are more than 80 years old. (City of Hays)
Hays Public Works employees used 3,000 bricks to replace the concrete street repair previously made in the 1100 block of Oak Street. Although more expensive than concrete, the bricks age better. Some bricks on downtown Hays streets are more than 80 years old. (City of Hays)

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays is has long been known for its beautiful red brick streets in the downtown area and the older parts of town.

But when it comes to repairs on those streets, the city somehow got into the routine of using concrete for the work, according to Toby Dougherty, city manager.

"Either a utility or us (the city) would cut into the bricks to fix a water line or a phone line, an electrical line, and then just put it back with concrete rather than bricks," Dougherty said. "So that's why when you drive around the older parts of town you'll sometimes you'll see a brick street with kind of an illogical concrete line running across it or parallel to it over towards the curb.

"Concrete was used because it's cheaper and easier, but it kind of destroys the character of the brick streets." 

That precedent has changed.

Public Works employees recently completed a street repair in the 1100 block of Oak where a water line had been replaced.  

This time they used bricks — 3,000 red bricks.

"It's pretty easy to maintain but it is more expensive to construct," Dougherty explained, "because you're actually building two streets. You build a concrete street and then you put some sand over that and you lay your bricks down.

"But that's also why they last so long. It's kind of a tradeoff. You have a high investment cost but you get a long-lasting product.

"Some of the bricks on downtown Hays streets are 80-plus years old and still functioning fine."

More accolades are ahead for the North Vine Street Corridor roundabout project in Hays, Assistant City Manager Collin Bielser told city commissioners Thursday during his monthly progress report. 

The project will be recognized at the American Concrete Institution Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards Gala on Oct. 24 in Dallas. The contractor was Smoky Hill Construction, Salina.

A second restroom has been added to Seven Hills Optimist Park, next to the new ARC Park. (City of Hays)
A second restroom has been added to Seven Hills Optimist Park, next to the new ARC Park. (City of Hays)

There is another restroom facility now in Seven Hills Optimist Park, 33rd and Hillcrest, also home to the new ARC Park.  

"It sits west of the splash pad and was paid for by the ARC Park group and has additional handicap accessible features," Bielser said. "Dirt work and a sidewalk installation will be done by the city before it's open to the public."

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