The Salina City Commission on Monday approved awarding the construction contract for Project 240330: West Magnolia Road Phase One to Prairie Land Works Inc. of McPherson. The contract totals $3,971,895.90, including a 5 percent contingency.
Project Scope & Location
The Phase One project covers roughly 0.5 miles of West Magnolia Road, beginning at the I-135 ramps and extending just west of Virginia Drive. The reconstruction will widen the roadway to a three-lane section and add:
- A sidewalk on the north side
- A hike/bike trail on the south side
- Updated drainage improvements along the Big Ditch
- A new single-lane roundabout with full turning movements
City engineers noted that the road’s deteriorated condition, narrow design, and significant drainage challenges contribute to the higher project cost.
Bid Results & Funding
Three companies submitted bids. Prairie Land Works provided the low bid at $3,782,758, which was higher than the engineer’s estimate. Staff said the higher cost reflects complex phasing requirements and the inability to close the road due to surrounding residential and commercial development.
The project is supported by a $1.5 million KDOT cost-share grant, which must be under contract by February. Staff emphasized that rebidding the project would risk losing that funding.
Why a Roundabout?
Public questions were raised during the meeting about why a roundabout is planned instead of a signalized intersection. According to staff and commissioners:
- A traffic signal would create dangerous queueing onto the I-135 overpass.
- Expected traffic from 500 new apartment units, existing commercial development, and future Airport Authority connections requires a continuous-flow design.
- KDOT favors roundabout solutions for safety and congestion reasons.
Timeline
Construction is expected to begin in spring, with completion targeted for November 2026, ahead of next year’s holiday retail season.
The Commission voted 5–0 to approve the contract.
