Shawnee County awards roughly $10 million road contract, orders traffic controls and school outreach

Shawnee County commissioners voted March 6 to award a low bid to Bettis Asphalt and Construction Company of Topeka for a road improvement project on Northwest 40 Sixth between Fielding and Rochester roads and approved related construction oversight and ancillary public-works items.

The award, described by county staff as a little over $10 million and funded from the county's half-cent retailer sales tax program, passed on a 3-0 vote. Commissioners also approved an amendment to the project's design/inspection contract so the county will have on-site construction engineering and quality oversight during the work.

County officials said the project will require signed detours and additional traffic controls and urged coordinated outreach to the Seaman School District to prevent students from trying to cross U.S. 75 at the work site. Commissioners emphasized steps to enforce detours, limit safety risks and keep the public informed throughout construction.

Kurt Neath, director of public works, told commissioners the low bid came from Bettis Asphalt and Construction and recommended acceptance. "The low bid was presented by Bettis Asphalt and Construction," Neath said. He described two signed detour routes the county will post and said the county has substituted Button Road for one of the original detour paths that used the US 75 intersection.

Jeff Hunt, deputy director of…