Council approves $25 million-plus in street, bridge and utility projects; appoints downtown BID member

The Topeka governing body on March 4 approved a package of street, bridge and utility projects totaling roughly $25 million and confirmed an appointment to the Downtown Business Improvement District Advisory Board.

The projects approved include a CIP amendment to reallocate 2023 bridge maintenance funds, repairs to the Branner Street trafficway bridge, the next phase of Topeka Boulevard reconstruction, utility and street work on Southeast Sixth Avenue and a group of street, utility and bridge repairs on Southeast 29th Street and adjacent corridors. Council also approved the appointment of Jennifer Getz to the Downtown Business Improvement District Advisory Board to fill an unexpired term ending Oct. 31, 2026.

Why it matters: Council members said the investments respond to long-standing infrastructure needs across Oakland, Southeast and East Topeka neighborhoods and will fund both immediate repairs (bridge panels, box culverts) and multi-year reconstruction projects with anticipated completion dates in 2026–2027.

Key approvals and details - CIP amendment (project 12-10-19, 2023 bridge and maintenance program): Public Works Director Steve Braun told the council the 2023 bridge funds had been used for biannual bridge inspections and were originally intended for Branner Bridge repairs, but the Branner project was delayed to 2025 because of the River Road project. The council approved the amendment to use those dollars for this year’s work.

- Branner Street trafficway bridge repairs (project 12-10-19, phase 4): Steve Gaughan described concrete roadway panel replacements and related repairs; staff scheduled a public open house March 17 at the Oakland Community Center to discuss the project.

- Topeka Boulevard reconstruction (projects 70-10-49 and 20-8-13, phase 5): The next reconstruction phase will include road work and water-main replacement. Project start was targeted for June with completion in December 2026; staff said there would be no full road closures but single-lane traffic in each direction during work.

- Southeast Sixth Avenue (projects 84-10-98 phase 4, 50-11-06 phase 10, 12-10-22 phase 1): Work will include milling and overlay, patching, storm-sewer repairs and bridge repairs; a public open house was scheduled for March 13 at Victory City Church.

- Southeast 29th Street and related corridors (multiple project phases): Staff said the scope includes replacing a box culvert over Butcher Creek, water-main work, mill-and-overlay work and installation of a traffic signal at Fremont Avenue. Start contingent on railroad permitting was slated for May/June with final work next summer.

Council action and votes: Each motion carried on roll call. The appointment of Jennifer Getz carried (9 yes). All infrastructure motions carried, with roll-call tallies recorded by the clerk. (See actions[] for recorded motions and vote records.)

Quotes: "The 2023 bridge maintenance funds were used to pay for the biannual bridge inspections and were to fund the Brannar [Branner] Bridge repairs in the spring of last year, but this project was delayed to 2025 due to the River Road project," Steve Braun said.

Timing and next steps: Several projects have public open houses this month and are scheduled to begin construction between May and June, with many final completions forecast for late 2026 or 2027. Council members and staff said they will increase public outreach and publish maps of work to help residents navigate closures and detours.

Ending: Council members praised the public infrastructure committee for advancing the package through committee so it arrived at the full governing body ready for votes; no motions failed.