KDOT offers maintenance money for county roads during Beam plant detour; commissioners ask for engineering review
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Summary
KDOT proposed compensation to Montgomery County for increased wear from a detour tied to construction near the Bartlett/Beam plant: two rounds of dust control, $40,000 for patching and $30,000 for aggregate, with county staff to document pre- and post-work and seek a formal agreement.
County public works staff told the Board of County Commissioners that the Kansas Department of Transportation has proposed compensating the county for additional maintenance related to a long-duration detour tied to construction near the Bartlett soybean/Beam plant facility.
Public works reported the detour will likely increase traffic on County Road 4400 (from Highway 169 east to Olive Street) and County Road 5500 (from Highway 160 north to County Road 4400). KDOT’s initial offer includes two applications of magnesium‑based dust control, $40,000 for asphalt patching (primarily expected on Olive Street) and $30,000 for additional aggregate, all subject to preapproval and documentation (video/photos and receipts) for reimbursement.
Staff said the contractor estimated about 13 months of work for the project. Public works also flagged a seven‑ton bridge near Angola Road (on Olive Street) that could be impacted by redirected traffic; staff recommended signage and possible restrictions to prevent heavy through‑traffic on narrow, posted routes.
Why it matters: The detour could route hundreds of additional daily vehicles onto county roads not designed for sustained heavy commercial traffic. The proposed compensation is intended to cover dust control and some repairs, but staff said they would return to KDOT for additional funding if the project proves more damaging than anticipated.
Discussion and next steps: Commissioners asked public works to have county engineers review any routes and to consult with the county’s engineering firm (Cook & Platt). Staff will ask KDOT to prepare a formal agreement for the board to sign and will document road conditions before work begins. Public works recommended closing narrow local roads to through traffic and posting weight limits where appropriate.
Ending: The board agreed to pursue a formal contract with KDOT and asked staff and the county engineer to review the proposed mitigation plan and to coordinate with neighboring counties on similar projects.