The City of Wichita has contracted with Wildcat Construction Co., Inc. to construct a new storm water sewer serving the Core Area (between I-135, the central rail corridor, Waterman and Central). Work is planned to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 16. The project will extend a concrete box drain along Douglas from the Wichita drainage canal to Wabash (one block eat of Washington), and then north and west into Old Town. Traffic on Douglas, Hydraulic, Washington and 1st Street will be affected at different times during the 17-month project.
The existing drainage system in most of the area was constructed in the 1920’s and has a history of flooding in certain locations following heavy rains. The 1st and 2nd Street railroad underpasses, for example, have frequently caused motorists to stall out in two feet of water or more.
The project will provide a new storm sewer main with the capacity for future storm water improvements. The new storm sewer will also intercept a large portion of the drainage north of Douglas, improving drainage on Douglas and reducing the load on the drainage systems in Lewis and Waterman. The project will require pavement to be replaced over the entire route. Sanitary sewer and water line work will also be done as part of the project.
Construction will begin Tuesday, Oct. 16 on Douglas at the Wichita drainage canal (I-135) and proceed west to Wabash. Three- to four-block stretches of Douglas will be restricted to two lanes of traffic (one-lane each direction). Construction through the Douglas and Hydraulic intersection will require an estimated 10-day closure of the intersection to north/south Hydraulic traffic. Work affecting traffic on Douglas is projected to be complete by June 2008.
Work will continue north on Wabash and west 3rd Street to Mead, with a projected completion date of February 2009. Traffic on 3rd Street will be restricted to one lane, and construction through the 3rd and Washington intersection will require an estimated 10-day closure of the intersection to north/south Washington traffic.
The estimated project cost for the drainage and paving work is $7,840,000, with $6,490,000 funded by the Storm Water Utility and $1,350,000 funded by the Old Town Tax Increment Financing District. Wichita Water Utilities will fund approximately $475,000 in sanitary sewer and water line work.
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