By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The City of Great Bend started the process of improving the intersection at 10th Street and McKinley Street in 2019 by applying for a Transportation Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP). Moving forward five years, the Great Bend City Council on Monday took the next step to improving the traffic signals at the intersection by approving an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).
Great Bend Public Works Director Jason Cauley said the project will add protected left-turn signals on McKinley.
"The project is fully funded by federal and state aid programs," said Cauley. "The city is currently taking care of temporary and permanent easements necessary for the signal improvements project. As the next step in the process, KDOT requests the city to pass a resolution and enter into an agreement with KDOT for the project authorization. There is no local match required."
The city will be responsible for maintenance of the traffic signal installations. Cauley added bid letting for the project will be in August but was not sure on KDOT’s schedule to begin following the bid process.
Currently, there are only left-turn lanes with no protected signals on McKinley. The KDOT project will create left-turn signals for all four sides of traffic.