Topeka committee advances multiple street, signal and bridge projects; bids to be advertised

The Topeka City Public Infrastructure Committee on Jan. 31 approved motions to advance multiple street, traffic-signal, and bridge projects, directing staff to advertise bids and proceed with project work as described in presentations from Public Works staff.

Items approved or advanced included a traffic-signal replacement at Southwest 20th Street and Bell Avenue (part of the 2024 signal replacement program), a multi-segment reconstruction on Southwest Fairlawn Road (from 23rd Street to 28th Street with utility work and road widening at 25th Street), pavement rehabilitation on Southwest Harrison Street coordinated with a state-funded dock building project (50–50 cost share with the state up to $400,000), microsurfacing and ultra-thin bonded asphalt surface (UBAS) preventive maintenance segments funded by the city half-cent sales tax, and a crack-sealing contract for the Southwest quadrant. The committee also approved an amendment to the bridge maintenance program for work identified by 2023 inspections and then approved the contract for Banner/Brenner Bridge repairs (expansion joints, approach panels and related work).

Public Works staff described program details, including that the signal at 20th and Bell was originally reconstructed in 1984 and the replacement cost was estimated at $528,475. Staff said Fairlawn Road reconstruction will include water, sanitary and storm work, bridge approach work and some full-depth patches, and that public engagement meetings have already been held; the Fairlawn project will be a two-year effort once construction begins. For the Harrison Street work, staff said one segment will be a joint city–state project with a cost-share commitment from the state.

Council questions focused on coordination and schedule: Council members asked whether the 20th Street corridor remains part of the city’s coordinated “in-sync” signal system and whether Fairlawn construction will start this year; staff said bids will be sought and expected to start by summer after a 2–3 month pre-bid-to-start window. On UBAS and the corridor at 6th and Golden, staff said that a separate, larger panel-replacement and full-depth project is in design and will be taken to the governing body when costs exceed the city bid threshold.

Votes were recorded on the record in the committee transcript with the common phrasing "All those in favor, raise your right hand" and numerical tallies given; most items were approved by voice vote with the transcript recording a tally of "2–0" for many motions in this meeting. For these administrative and construction-contract motions, staff will return with final bid results, contract awards and schedules as those items are ready for council or governing-body consideration.