The Watchdog | Manholes? Overland Park has the problem covered

The problem

Weasels are supposed go pop, but car tires aren’t — at least not when they’re driving over manhole covers.

However, Brian Neilson of Leawood said the air leaked out of his tire after he hit two manhole covers that were well below some new pavement on 95th Street in Overland Park. He blamed one particularly bad depression in the westbound lanes near Metcalf Avenue.

“The bang when I hit the manhole/sinkhole was so loud I was definitely worried at the time, and my fears were justified.”

He acknowledged that his 19-inch racing wheels might be more sensitive to recessed manholes, which he has also noticed elsewhere.

“Why can’t they try to get the surface flush, or at least a little closer to flush, when surfacing these streets all over town?”

The answer

An Overland Park inspector checked the manhole covers near 95th and Metcalf and found nothing unusual, said city spokesman Sean Reilly.

“The city did do a small overlay in that area this summer,” Reilly said. “Correct adjustment of manholes and values prior to overlays is one of the top 10 priorities for City Engineer Dan Miller. City inspectors routinely work with utilities and contractors to ensure proper levels for manhole covers on city streets.”

The Watchdog drove 95th Street — sans racing wheels — in both directions this week and noticed two covers that were noticeably recessed: one affecting eastbound drivers turning north on Nall Avenue and another in the eastbound lanes farther west. He encountered a couple of rough spots on westbound 95th between Lamar Avenue and U.S. 69, but nothing so jarring as to pop a tire.

The Watchdog says the only thing he’d like to pop is the question. But he’s afraid she’ll say no.