Disapproval of the city’s plan for a roundabout at 15th and A was apparent, Tuesday night, at a meeting discussing the plan.
Carroll Glass was filled with residents wanting more information from city and state officials on the plan and to let their opinion be known.
Principal and Senior Vice President of TranSystems Brett A. Letkowski, along with Ron Seitz, of the Bureau of Local Projects from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) presented the engineering and construction plans for the roundabout at 15th and A.
Named the “most dangerous intersection in Wellington” Seitz said it was two-and-a-half times the state accident rate with its current design. After a company is chosen for the job in late 2010 or early Spring 2011, work will start to take place in one construction season, Seitz said. This could take anywhere from six to 9 months to complete.
The roundabout is estimated to cost $1.4 million to complete, with the City of Wellington to only pay 10 percent of the cost. The State of Kansas will use a combination of federal and geometric klink monies to pay for the project, City Engineer Larry Mangan said.
The project is set to be done in four phases, shutting down different parts of 15th and A as construction progresses. Letkowski said TranSystems would do what they could to allow access to businesses around the construction — constructing makeshift driveways and working efficiently to get the jobs done near local businesses.
After each phase was explained in detail, Letkowski showed a video of a simulated model of the different types of vehicles that could make their way through the roundabout, including cars, trucks and semi-trailers.
Oversized hauls, including wind turbines, could also make their way through, Letkowski said, through the audience had their doubts.
Questions and comments as to why detours through town had to be put in place, how pedestrians would manage the roundabout and what economic impact it would have on the businesses were brought up, with audience members shouting out of turn to let their feelings be known.
Council members Jim Valentine and Cindy Antonich spoke against the roundabout.
“I don’t think these businesses can afford any more than they are,” said Valentine, who asked for economic impact figures.
“Can anyone give me a guarantee that someone’s not going to get hurt out there? We’ve never had a fatality that I’m aware of out here. Can anyone give me a guarantee?” Valentine asked.
Antonich voiced her worries about drainage to the east of the project.
“I’ve always been a no vote, I don’t like it, and I don’t think we need to tear it out,” said Antonich, to cheers and claps.
Other council members present, including Larry Shimer, Terry Nunemaker, John Brand, Chase Weber, B.J. Tracy, and Mayor Stallbaumer did not speak to the crowd. Council member Paula Mortimer was not present at the meeting.
Businesses and home owners directly impacted by the easement process were allowed to speak and most were not in favor of the project.
Shane Carroll said he had distributed a petition to stop the project or to put it to a special vote to the people. Over 800 signatures were collected in four days, Preston Carroll later said.
“If the roundabout were the only solution to the problem, it would make sense to me, but it’s not worth sacrificing the townspeople’s businesses for a turn-style intersection that won’t allow for truck passages,” Carroll said.
“It wouldn’t even pay a fourth of my utility bill,” said Ed Bauler, of of his assessed appraisal.
The meeting ended shortly after 8 p.m., with most residents coming up and asking questions to the city and state officials.
For updates and breaking news on the roundabout, go to www.wellingtondailynews.com.
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Disapproval of the city’s plan for a roundabout at 15th and A was apparent, Tuesday night, at a meeting discussing the plan.
Carroll Glass was filled with residents wanting more information from city and state officials on the plan and to let their opinion be known.
Principal and Senior Vice President of TranSystems Brett A. Letkowski, along with Ron Seitz, of the Bureau of Local Projects from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) presented the engineering and construction plans for the roundabout at 15th and A.
Named the “most dangerous intersection in Wellington” Seitz said it was two-and-a-half times the state accident rate with its current design. After a company is chosen for the job in late 2010 or early Spring 2011, work will start to take place in one construction season, Seitz said. This could take anywhere from six to 9 months to complete.
The roundabout is estimated to cost $1.4 million to complete, with the City of Wellington to only pay 10 percent of the cost. The State of Kansas will use a combination of federal and geometric klink monies to pay for the project, City Engineer Larry Mangan said.
The project is set to be done in four phases, shutting down different parts of 15th and A as construction progresses. Letkowski said TranSystems would do what they could to allow access to businesses around the construction — constructing makeshift driveways and working efficiently to get the jobs done near local businesses.
After each phase was explained in detail, Letkowski showed a video of a simulated model of the different types of vehicles that could make their way through the roundabout, including cars, trucks and semi-trailers.
Oversized hauls, including wind turbines, could also make their way through, Letkowski said, through the audience had their doubts.
Questions and comments as to why detours through town had to be put in place, how pedestrians would manage the roundabout and what economic impact it would have on the businesses were brought up, with audience members shouting out of turn to let their feelings be known.
Council members Jim Valentine and Cindy Antonich spoke against the roundabout.
“I don’t think these businesses can afford any more than they are,” said Valentine, who asked for economic impact figures.
“Can anyone give me a guarantee that someone’s not going to get hurt out there? We’ve never had a fatality that I’m aware of out here. Can anyone give me a guarantee?” Valentine asked.
Antonich voiced her worries about drainage to the east of the project.
“I’ve always been a no vote, I don’t like it, and I don’t think we need to tear it out,” said Antonich, to cheers and claps.
Other council members present, including Larry Shimer, Terry Nunemaker, John Brand, Chase Weber, B.J. Tracy, and Mayor Stallbaumer did not speak to the crowd. Council member Paula Mortimer was not present at the meeting.
Businesses and home owners directly impacted by the easement process were allowed to speak and most were not in favor of the project.
Shane Carroll said he had distributed a petition to stop the project or to put it to a special vote to the people. Over 800 signatures were collected in four days, Preston Carroll later said.
“If the roundabout were the only solution to the problem, it would make sense to me, but it’s not worth sacrificing the townspeople’s businesses for a turn-style intersection that won’t allow for truck passages,” Carroll said.
“It wouldn’t even pay a fourth of my utility bill,” said Ed Bauler, of of his assessed appraisal.
The meeting ended shortly after 8 p.m., with most residents coming up and asking questions to the city and state officials.
For updates and breaking news on the roundabout, go to www.wellingtondailynews.com.
