HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council was split on their support of a KDOT grant application for major improvements to the Woodie Seat interchange with Avenue A.
On a 3-2 vote, the Council approved a contract with WSP USA to file a supplemental application for the project. The cost to the city is $18,478.
New Councilmembers Steve Garza and Sara Bagwell both voted against the proposal, both didn't like the project design. Garza stated that he had heard from a number of patrons who were against the $8.7 million project. The only statement Bagwell could bring the table was her dislike for roundabouts which are part of the project. The Council also approved chipping in an additional 5% to their share which would be an additional $435,000 to the city's cost.
The project would include building roundabouts at Avenue A and Adams and at the interchange with Woodie Seat Freeway. From there, the road would incline over the two sets of railroad tracks before continuing on its normal route. The proposal would eliminate the two aging bridges at avenues A and B and would close Avenue B at that location.
The proposal has the support of the Chamber of Commerce, the school district, the City of South Hutchinson, Representative Jason Probst and Hutch Rec. Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho wanted to stress the need to make other street improvements to the area as the project evolves and to make sure there are plenty of sidewalks to get pedestrians around the improvements.
Residents in the area have some objections to having Avenue B closed at the overpass. There are others who simply don’t like roundabouts. If the city gets the funding, the state would pay about $6.2 million of the $8.7 million price tag.