The City of Wichita has contracted with Lafarge North America to reconstruct 21st Street from the K-96 interchange to 159th Street East. A public information meeting will be held at Church of the Magdalen, 12626 East 21st St., at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, in the school music room.

The 21st St corridor between K-96 and 159th St. East has experienced tremendous growth in the last six years. Traffic volumes on 21st, especially near 127th St East, are exceeding capacity for the existing 2 lane asphalt mat roadway. Traffic counts have doubled in the last six years on this roadway.

This project will provide four lanes with a two-way center left turn lane and landscaped medians, new traffic signals, storm water improvements as well as sidewalk and landscaping. Funding of the $10,240,910 project includes $8,387,723 in federal funds. Work is slated to begin Nov.10. The paving project has a projected completion date in November 2009; restoration of turf areas will be completed in June 2010.

Construction will be performed in two major phases.

Phase 1, from Nov. 10 to Dec. 10, will include removal and replacement of three large drainage structures located between 127th and 143rd Streets. Sections of 21st Street between 127th and 143rd Streets will be closed completely to through traffic, which will be detoured via 13th Street. 127th Street, currently closed due to construction activity, will be reopened to traffic by Nov. 10. Access to local homes and businesses will be maintained.

Phase 2 is expected to begin in December and will continue until early summer of 2010. Work will consist of storm sewer and street construction on 21st Street, as well as construction of intersections at 127th, 143rd, and 159th Streets. One lane of traffic in each direction on 21st Street will be maintained. Left turns at the 127th, 143rd, and 159th Street intersections will be prohibited at times.

Although the existing condition of one lane of traffic in each direction on 21st Street will be maintained during Phase 2, area residents may find it advantageous to utilize the recently widened 13th Street.

Access to businesses will be maintained through the duration of the project with intermittent flagging of traffic.

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