Progress continues on National Avenue project

Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo Workers with Amino Brothers Co., Inc., of Kansas City, Kan., use machinery and equipment to maneuver large concrete blocks Friday near the intersection of Ninth Street and National Avenue. Fort Scott Streets Supervisor Chad Brown said some water line and storm sewer work still remains in a project to make various improvements along National from Sixth to 13th streets. Brown said the concrete structures are "inlet boxes and the storm drain pipe they're putting in."

Work to make upgrades and improvements along a portion of National Avenue is rolling along on schedule, officials said.

Fort Scott Streets Supervisor Chad Brown said Friday a large portion of work in the approximately $3.8 million project to make improvements along National from Sixth to 13th streets has been completed and only a few side streets in the work area remain closed to traffic. Some areas along National have been opened to residential traffic.

"From Ninth Street to 13th Street is basically done except for asphalt and re-sodding yards," Brown said. "The water line is done. The storm sewer is done. The curb and gutter is completed. There are a few sections of sidewalk they're finishing up this week."

Brown said the installation of a new water line from Ninth Street south to 13th Street is complete. He said there is still some water and sewer line work to complete from Eight Street north to Sixth Street.

As far as road closings, Brown said National remains closed as work continues. He said cross streets that are still closed are 13th Street and 11th Street on the west side of National.

"All intersections are opened back up," he said. "National itself is still closed down. Eighth and Seventh streets are closed down as well. Ninth, 10th and 12th streets are open to traffic."

Brown said as work progresses, National could be re-opened to traffic in the near future.

"If they finish up a little bit of sidewalk they have left in that southern portion of it and get it all cleaned up, we'll open National up to traffic, from Ninth down to 13th," he said.

Since the project began in the summer of 2015, portions of National and some side streets have been closed to through traffic. Drivers have had to navigate orange cones and dividers in some areas, as well as face detours along a divided National. Crews have been addressing the project in sections.

Project work includes new asphalt paving on National, new curbs and gutters, new sidewalks and installation of a new 12-inch water line, as well as the addition of storm sewer pipes and inlets. The contractor for the project is Amino Brothers Co., Inc., of Kansas City, Kan.

The project also includes installation of four new traffic poles and signals at the intersection of Sixth and National.

"They're upgrading all the traffic signals," Brown said. "There will be a new control box and a whole new signal set-up. It will be the big mast arm style signals like out on the (U.S. Highway 69) bypass."

Brown said the new signals are being put in place as the current ones "were out of date." The new signals won't be operational until the current ones are removed.

"We couldn't get parts for them anymore," he said. "We were using old stuff."

Brown said he didn't have a timeline for completion of laying asphalt along National, which will be the final phase of the project. After talking with the contractor, he said the goal is still to have the entire project complete by August.

In February, some roads in the area were closed as crews worked on installation of a storm sewer from Eighth to 12th streets. A gas company relocated a gas line between Eighth and 12th streets to accommodate the storm sewer.