NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The process of solving the issues with the Woodie Seat Freeway is headed forward with the approval Tuesday of a contract with a team comprised of WSP USA and JEO Consulting Group.
"This contract, in addition to the design of the roundabout at Avenue A at Woodie Seat will also complete an access study to evaluate options and viability to allow passage across Avenue B at Woodie Seat," said Director of Engineering Jeff Peterson. "We can investigate that and see if there's an amenable solution to that."
They are going to do the Avenue B portion of the work first and get any options on the table by October of this year.
"There is a public involvement portion included in this contract," Peterson said. "These options, at Avenue B, as well as the roundabout, will be presented at City Council meetings as well as SW Bricktown neighborhood for discussion."
The actual design of whatever is chosen for Avenue B is not part of this contract, because they don't know which will be chosen. The contract contemplates three options, pedestrian access utilizing Avenue C, pedestrian access through Woodie Seat at Avenue B or vehicle and pedestrian access through Woodie Seat at Avenue B. Cecelia Pina, who has been an advocate for further study into the options on the freeway beyond just closing Avenue B outright, is pleased with the progress.
"You've taken time to listen to our concerns," Pina told the council. "I would, however, like to use this platform to reach out to all the residents of our community. I've had some dialogue with some people on Facebook wanting to know the ifs, ands and buts of whatever we've discussed here for all this time. I encourage everybody, even though it's in a certain part of town, doesn't mean you shouldn't have input. It takes involvement to understand. There was a lot of criticism about the money that was being spent. I think we've come to a great compromise."
The agreement with WSP USA for design services is an hourly contract with a not to exceed amount of $448,230. It was approved unanimously.