Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Lee's Summit planners highlight Ward Road public meeting, road closures and signal activations
Loading...
Summary
At its Feb. 12 meeting the Planning Commission heard staff updates on Ward Road improvements, upcoming closures for a roundabout, signal activations in neighborhoods and a project schedule indicating north-section openings in May and contract completion by June 30; staff also announced a meet-the-contractor session that evening.
City staff used the Feb. 12 Planning Commission meeting to update commissioners and the public on transportation projects and community outreach.
A flash briefing and staff notices recommended an in-person public meeting on Ward Road Improvements for Feb. 12 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at City Hall to review plans to reconstruct Ward Road from Northwest O'Brien Road to Blue Parkway to a two-lane section with bicycle lanes and sidewalks. The briefing also said the intersection of Northwest Ward Road and Northwest Blue Parkway is scheduled to close on Friday, Feb. 13 for roundabout construction and remain closed "until approximately June," and that a section of Northwest Blue Parkway between Northwest Executive Way and Northwest Ward Road would also be closed for the work.
Susan Berry, the city's traffic engineer, briefed the commission on a related road-expansion project, saying the north portion of that work should be open to traffic by May and that the contract's official completion date is June 30. Berry said a 30-day closure at the Longview intersection will likely be scheduled in a nonwinter month and that the Mouse Creek tunnel work (a parks-related, grant-funded item) is tied into the overall project schedule. Berry also noted that recent signal projects were activated at Todd George and Chipman Road and at 3rd and Bridlewood/Peel and that another signal at Oldham Village was expected to be turned on soon.
Staff reminded the public of a 'meet the contractor' session for the Ward Road project in the Struthers Conference Room at City Hall the same evening through 6:30 p.m. so residents could view project plans and ask questions.
On other community matters, Commissioner Trafton — reporting as liaison to the Community & Economic Development Committee — summarized a staff presentation on floodplain regulations and said the committee asked staff to prepare a UDO ordinance on floodplain matters for Planning Commission review in March. Trafton also raised a public-safety concern about a synthetic drug reported in the community, stating it can appear as candy or gummies and commenting that it is "7 times more potent than OxyContin," and noted surrounding jurisdictions are discussing potential regulations including density limits and licensing requirements.
Commissioners asked follow-up questions about detours, signal warrants, landscaping and project sequencing; staff said traffic-count analyses, crash history and signal-warrant criteria would guide decisions on additional signals or lighting.
Staff encouraged residents to attend the public meeting and the meet-the-contractor session to review detour plans and project staging details.
