Shawnee County approves engineering design for Maple Hill Road bridge after resident urges safety measures

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved Contract C545-2025 to hire engineering services for redecking and repainting the Maple Hill Road bridge over the Kansas River, with a design price listed at $243,000.

Curtney House, director of public works, told commissioners the bulk of project funding will come from the county’s bridges portion of the countywide sales tax program and that the work will be done in two phases: redecking one year and repainting the steel superstructure the next. House said the county will move forward with plan preparation and review firm proposals.

During public comment, resident Myin Lime urged the board to require that the engineering plans include features to protect pedestrians and bicycle riders. “The guard rail that’s on the bridge comes up about to my knee,” Myin Lime said, adding that the narrow roadway and low rail increase the risk of a vulnerable road user ending up in the river if a distracted driver strays from the lane.

Commissioners and staff answered questions about ownership and cost allocation for the county‑line bridge. Public‑works staff explained that, for administration and inspection purposes, the state treats the structure as Shawnee County’s bridge. For major construction on county‑line bridges, the transcript records that costs are split proportionally by each county’s total assessed value per KSA (state statute). Staff said payment negotiations with neighboring counties were already underway and that the proportional distribution applies to construction costs, while the current item covers design work only.

Commissioner Ripon moved to approve the design contract; the motion was seconded and approved on a 3-0 voice vote.

What happens next: staff will proceed with plan preparation and continue negotiations with adjacent counties about how construction costs will be apportioned.