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Nordstrom Airport access road: engineers say KDOT approval will determine drainage plan and costs
Summary
Engineers updating the Coffey County Commission on the Nordstrom Airport access road said the projects drainage approach depends on Kansas Department of Transportation approval. A short pipe through a berm would be low-cost if allowed; otherwise an enclosed system would add significant expense.
County commissioners received an update on the Nordstrom Airport access road project that focused on a drainage issue at the north end of the site and a pending review by the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Rick Walker, senior project manager and engineer with CFS, told commissioners the team has two drainage options: a short pipe (about 20 feet) through a berm from the new road to the KDOT roadside ditch if KDOT approves, or, if KDOT does not approve that approach, a more expensive enclosed system that would pipe roughly 150 feet north and under the new road to reconnect to the existing airport drainage.
"If we are not successful in securing approval for that approach, we will... probably have to pipe about 150 feet to the north and then under our new road back to the east to the drainage pattern in the north of the airport," Walker said. The team said it has submitted calculations to KDOT showing the proposed short pipe would not reduce ditch capacity for the roadside ditch that serves the highway.
Contractor representatives said work is progressing on phases 1 and 2 of the access road, compaction and paving are moving forward, and inspectors are preparing schedules. Presenters said they expect to place surface material by late October if weather permits.
Commissioners pressed the engineers about added cost if KDOT denies the short-pipe approach. Engineers said the minimal-cost scenario would require only a short section of pipe and grading if KDOT approves; otherwise the enclosed alternative will add substantial but as-yet-uncosted expense. The engineer also described a proposed ditch between the new road and KDOT right of way to convey sheet flow and protect the highway roadside ditch depth.
Several commissioners said they want closer coordination among contractor, county inspectors and KDOT permits after the meetingand asked for updated schedules and daily logs from the contractor. No formal action was taken; staff said they would follow up with KDOT and report back.
Ending: County staff committed to follow up with KDOT on the drainage permit and to provide commissioners with an updated construction schedule and daily inspection logs.
