The Wichita City Council has deferred a vote until September 8 on plans to build a pedestrian bridge over Rock Road.
Phase 2 of the Redbud Trail project from Woodlawn to K-96 would include the bridge, expected to cost $3 to $3.5 million. Additional costs are projected for structure walls, landscaping, and the like.
Confusion arose among several council members, as city staff detailed the expansion of the overall project budget, to $17.8 million, thanks to a combination of federal grants, local match, KDOT funding and private donations. Mayor Lily Wu asked for clarification on the project’s financials.
Phase 1 of the work on the trail began in February. Three miles of concrete pathway and new crossing signals at Woodlawn, Webb and Greenwich will cost a little over $5 million.
The council will also vote next week to approve a $150 thousand donation from Koch to improve the safety wire mesh along and above the proposed bridge.
Traffic signal improvements are coming to 21st Street North in the north and northwest part of the city.
The project from 119th Street West to Main Street will include the installation of fiberoptic communication cable and upgrades to signals to better synchronize the system and improve traffic flow. Accessibility upgrades will be completed as well.
At Tuesday's meeting, we also received an update on the construction project at the BNR plant in the southern part of town.
The council approved a project that would upsize the gas mains to the sewer plant. The $305 thousand cost will be funded through the overall project budget.
The city says two of four advanced odor systems are now fully operational, actively scrubbing foul air from the enclosed basins and discharging treated air. While air quality has improved, the city says even bigger improvements are expected by next spring.
The expansion of Treatment Plant 2 began in May 2024 and should be completed by Fall 2027. The project’s total estimated cost is around $357 million.
