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Newton, Harvey County staff brief commissioners on East 1st multimodal path; Road & Bridge authorized to advertise 2026 projects
Summary
County and Newton officials discussed a phased multimodal 10-foot multiuse path along East 1st Street to improve safety and increase grant competitiveness; Road & Bridge received authorization to advertise three 2026 projects including a bridge replacement, HMA paving and microsurfacing.
County road staff and Newton city representatives on Nov. 12 updated the Harvey County Commission on preliminary designs for improvements along East 1st Street and sought blessing to continue design and grant-readiness work.
Jim (Road & Bridge) and city staff, including Chris Chardella, described two alignment options: a separated 10-foot multiuse path located off the roadway (preferred for safety) and a parallel on-street facility. City staff said the off-street multiuse path would improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians and make the corridor more competitive for state and federal multimodal grants. Preliminary estimates indicated the on-street option could be about $300,000 more in initial construction cost in some configurations because of roadway section changes and deeper pavement sections.
Commissioners raised questions about right-of-way needs, impacts on adjacent rural property (including farm machinery needs), timing of outreach to affected property owners and whether city maintenance or annexation would follow construction. City staff said discussions about maintenance responsibility and potential city assumption of sections would be part of later planning and that the design work aims to maximize grant opportunities without obligating final construction until grants are secured.
Separately, Road & Bridge staff asked the commission to authorize advertising for bids on three 2026 projects: project K-15.9, a bridge replacement on NW 12th west of Ridge; a 9.65-mile hot-mix asphalt (HMA) project on West Dutch; and a 20-mile microsurfacing project on Halsted Road/Burmak to the McPherson County line. Commissioners voted to authorize the department to advertise the projects and begin a 20-day bid advertisement period so openings could occur before the holiday season.
Road & Bridge staff said preliminary design and grant planning for the multiuse path would continue and that staff would keep commissioners informed as outreach and right-of-way planning proceed.
