U.S. 81 Construction project won’t be completed until October (maybe); here’s how to avoid a train
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow – U.S. 81 is officially closed, as the Kansas Department of Transportation closed the road off for construction Thursday.
The project, according to the KDOT press release, is expected to be completed in October – depending on delays caused by adverse weather conditions.
The new detour, as you probably know, is sending southbound drivers – east on Harvey Street, south to Jefferson Street, and down to Botkin Street on the south side of town, before turning west and rejoining to U.S. 81. For those, who are taking the detour, may get caught by a train. The one at 10 a.m. this morning was there for at least 15 minutes.
Wellington residents are very familiar with the underpass outlet to the south part of town via Fair St. Those not from here maybe not so much. If a train is occupying the intersections at Jefferson and Washington, here is the route to move you along your way…
Instead of sitting at the U.S. 81 detour at Jefferson and Washington during a train stop, head east on Harvey Street (blue line) to Fair Street, which will take you to the south part of town.
Cornejo & Sons LLC, from Wichita, is the prime contractor for this $1,310,000 project, which is funded by T-WORKS, the transportation program passed by the Kansas Legislature. For more information about T-WORKS projects and funding visit the website, www.ksdot.org/tworks. Highway construction project locations and road condition information can be viewed at the http://511.ksdot.org website, or can also be accessed by telephone by dialing 511.
KDOT urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and “Give ‘Em a Brake!” when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. Persons with questions about this road work or other KDOT projects can call South Central Kansas Public Affairs Manager, Zach Oswald, at 620-663-3361 or call 5-1-1 from any phone in Kansas or 1-866-511-5368 if unable to access 5-1-1.
