The Salina City Commission unanimously approved a $420,425 contract with Kaw Valley Engineering for engineering design services for a roundabout at the intersection of 9th Street and Waterwell Road during Monday's meeting.
City Engineer Jim Kowach presented the project to the commission, explaining that the intersection has become a priority due to increasing traffic in the area's rapidly developing industrial sector.
"As the Kabota expansion took place, the Schwan's big freezer took place, and now Amazon and Maverick, it's like we were going to be in big trouble on this corner," Kowach said.
The project will include more than just the roundabout. Kowach explained that the design will address a gap between a two-lane roadway south of the intersection and a four-lane roadway just north of Long McArthur. The project aims to create a three-lane section built to city standards.
As part of the design process, Kaw Valley Engineering will conduct a comprehensive traffic study involving consultation with area businesses to develop traffic projections. This will include input from numerous businesses in the south industrial park including Kabota, Great Plains Manufacturing, Schwan's Pizza, Advanced Auto Parts, Crestwood, Maverick Truck Stop Development, Amazon Warehouse, Stryten Energy, Long McArthur, Marshall Motors, Salina Airport Authority, Federal Express, Vortex, Bulk Handling, Doug Bradley, and other emerging businesses.
"We could count it today, but I can guarantee you if we counted it six months from now, it's going to be a lot different," Kowach said. "We want to make sure that we design this to handle the traffic that we're going to need."
The engineering firm will be tasked with projecting traffic patterns for one, five, and ten years into the future to ensure the design will accommodate long-term growth in the area.
Commissioner Longbine, who had pulled the item from the consent agenda for discussion, noted that the intersection currently has a high number of accidents.
"That's a dangerous intersection that I think really needs to be addressed," Longbine said.
Kowach confirmed that the intersection has a history of issues, explaining that a traditional traffic signal with turn lanes would potentially cause traffic to back up to the interstate ramps approximately 550 feet away.
"A roundabout, once we do the study and make sure it'll work, we think is a lot better solution than a signal with dual lefts," Kowach said.
The project will be funded through property tax supported bonds, according to Kowach.
The commission approved the contract in a 5-0 vote.
