UPDATE: Tuesday, January 8, 2012

Wichita City Council approved, 6-0, the design concept and budget for right-of-way acquisitions to expand 135th St. from Maple to Central in West Wichita.

The existing budget was increased from $145,000, approved in 2005, to $245,000.

Council member Jeff Longwell said, "We have a vibrant and growing West Wichita," and voted in support of the improvements.

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Monday, January 7, 2012

City engineers plan to expand 135th St. from Maple to Central and add sidewalks on either side of the street.

"There is pretty dense residential development in the area. We've had a lot of calls and requests, in particular, to put in sidewalks," said Gary Janzen, engineer for City of Wichita.

The nearly $3.5 million improvements include adding left and right turn lanes that will lead into housing developments, a ten foot multi-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians on the west side of the street, and a six foot sidewalk on the east side of the street.

"They've been talking about it for a long time, so, it's good that they're finally going to get it done," said Melinda Eddington, who lives near 135th St. "Once it's done, it'll make it a lot better out here."

In 2005, the City Council approved a design contract for the project. In 2007, the poor condition of the road at that time required complete rehabilitation of the pavement, so the project was delayed.

On Tuesday, the City Council will vote to approve or deny the new design and $245,000 budget for right-of-way acquisitions.

Construction for this project is expected to begin in the spring of 2014.

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The 135th St. expansion from Maple to Central, is one several that will be paid for with the Capital Improvement Program budget.

Other projects in that area include:

-Installing traffic signals at Maple and 135th St. in April 2013
-Widening 135th St. from Kellogg to Auburn Hills Country Club in 2013
-Improving Central Ave. from 119th to 135th St.
-Widening 135th St. from Central to 13th St. in 2015