Council approves $8.8 million Webb Road widening, disagreement over dual sidewalks

The City Council voted to approve an $8.8 million project to widen Webb Road from Central to 13th Street North and add pedestrian and safety improvements, after staff described design details and council members raised concerns about sidewalks and right-of-way.

Paul Gunzelman, Public Works and Utilities, told the council the project will add five lanes in sections, include sidewalk on both sides of the roadway (in accord with the city’s sidewalk ordinance for arterial streets), add signalized crosswalk improvements at the Minnehaha School crosswalk, and pursue a traffic signal at the Collegiate driveway with assessment to the private school for that signal cost. The project is intended to reduce crashes at the intersection of Collegiate Drive and Webb Road and provide continuous pedestrian space.

Several council members and public commenters — including local residents and students of Wichita Collegiate School — opposed building a sidewalk on the east side where a lake abuts the right-of-way, arguing the east-side sidewalk is unnecessary and could create unsafe pedestrian patterns near a busy school entrance. Councilmember Tuttle and staff cited multiple accidents near Collegiate and said the signal and pedestrian infrastructure would improve safety; the council noted the private school has agreed to pay for a signal at its entrance if installed.

After questions and public comment, the council opened the roll and the motion to approve the project passed 6-1.

Quote: "Sidewalks on both sides of the street increases the safety of people who are walking, biking, scootering... so they could cross safely," Paul Gunzelman said, citing the sidewalk ordinance.

Ending: The project will move forward with the approved funding; council asked staff to continue coordination with Collegiate School on signalization and with neighborhoods about sidewalk design.