95th Street project feared, anticipated
There’s no way to rebuild a major highway interchange without causing some pain to nearby businesses and residents. But with the impending closure of 95th Street at Interstate 35, the Kansas Department of Transportation and the city of Lenexa are working to minimize the discomfort.
With 95th Street set to close in February and remain so until August, the two governmental entities held a public forum Nov. 5 at the Thompson Barn event center in Lenexa to display diagrams, answer questions and solicit feedback. Nearly 100 people attended.
The 95th and I-35 intersection is one of the final parts of Phase 2 of the wide-ranging reconstruction project known as the Johnson County Gateway, where I-35 and 435 and Kansas 10 come together. Phase I began last year, while Phase II is set to be completed in 2016. A third phase is contemplated, but not yet funded. The first two phases are expected to cost $288 million.
Department spokeswoman Kim Qualls said the department decided to push through the 95th Street interchange project as quickly as possible.
“Either you keep it open to traffic through two construction seasons, or you close it entirely and get it done in 180 days,” Qualls said. “This is an aggressive build of an interchange. We are completely taking the old one out and putting another one in. It’s not like starting fresh.”
When it reopens, 95th Street will feature a diverging diamond configuration, which is considered state of the art in reducing traffic congestion and increasing safe vehicle movement. It will be the fourth such intersection the state has built in the area.
That will mean some different traffic patterns on either side of the highway. Two service stations on the east side of I-35 were bought up and razed to make way for new roadways. Two streets on the west side, Gillette and Bradshaw, will become cul-de-sacs, rather than intersect with Marshall Drive, the frontage road, as they previously did.
Earlier this year, Lenexa passed an amendment to its unified development code allowing for temporary signage in the area surrounding the interchange, which was designated a “special construction zone.” That means businesses may install temporary signs indicating they remain open and/or directing customers around roads blocked by construction. There will be no permit fees for such temporary signs, which may remain up though 2016.
Lenexa will put up its own detour signs and will offer businesses — and the public, for that matter — physical and downloadable detour maps, said Beccy Yocham, director of community development.
In addition, there are maps, videos, links to social media, written information and more on the website of the Gateway project, www.jocogateway.com. The site is maintained by Gateway Interchange Constructors, KDOT’s design-build partner in the project. Gateway Interchange Constructors is a partnership between Clarkson Construction Co., Kiewit Infrastructure Co., HDR Engineering and George Butler Associates.
But still, some business people expressed trepidation at the Nov. 5 meeting.
“It will be a challenge,” said Cathy Nierstheimer, warehouse manager for Costco, situated on the northwest corner of the interchange. “We will need to reach out to neighbors to inform them of access routes. We’ll have handouts in our lobby and do email blasts.”
That’s fine for a business with repeat customers, like Costco. But for Nish Patel, who owns the Super 8 motel on the southeast corner of the interchange, the prospect of a summer season without easy access for passersby on I-35 is positively frightening.
“Maybe for three months we can survive,” Patel said. “But for six months, it’s like you are choking my throat, neck and mouth and asking me to run 100 miles per hour.”
Patel said his lenders have already contacted him, offering to convert his loans to interest-only during the construction period, because they know the hardship he is facing.
Patel also would like to get a property tax break from the city during this period, and he brought it up with Lenexa representatives at the meeting.
Laura Wagner, public information officer for Gateway Interchange Constructors, said no business would be cut off completely during the construction period.
“They will all have access … somehow, some way,” Wagner said. “They may have to change, but no one will be cut off completely.”
People who live in the area were mainly concerned with how the construction would affect their daily commutes.
Marvie Sneegas said her family had lived in the area for 42 years.
“Change is difficult, but the improvement will be wonderful,” she said. “We’ve been watching it go on all around us, and it’s finally our turn.”
Sneegas said she first thought that 95th Street would be closed over the highway for a full year.
“Now they say six months,” she said. “That seems like a lot less time than they originally thought.”
This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 4:41 PM with the headline "95th Street project feared, anticipated."