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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:46 PM

Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald

A vehicle passes through the intersection of John Brown and Florida roads Tuesday afternoon in rural Franklin County. Franklin County will receive funds from the economic stimulus package to resurface a portion of John Brown Road between Florida and Kentucky roads.

Stimulus money to smooth John Brown Road

County will get $504K from feds to resurface portion of local road

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

A portion of John Brown Road soon will ride a bit smoother.

The resurfacing project has been selected to receive federal stimulus money — the only project selected in the county to receive road or bridge improvements.

“The road has received heavy traffic due to semitrucks hauling agricultural products to the Garnett ethanol plant and grain elevators in Emporia,” County Administrator Lisa Johnson said. “In addition, the traffic count increased by over 100 vehicles per day following it being paved a few years ago.”

Franklin County will receive $504,000 for the project, which will include a 2-inch overlay on about five miles of John Brown Road from Kentucky Road to Florida Road, she said.

Seventy-seven projects totaling $34.7 million were selected to receive federal stimulus funding for road and bridge improvements throughout Kansas.

The state received $348 million for highway and bridge projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, with $38 million directed to the Kansas City and Wichita metro areas.

The Kansas Department of Transportation sought applications from local units of government to share more than $34 million for city and county projects.

“With many worthy projects submitted for consideration, the final selection was very difficult,” KDOT Deputy Secretary Jerry Younger said in a news release. “But, I am confident that the projects selected will enhance local transportation networks and give a boost to the economies in each of the project locations.”

The number of requests for local funding far exceeded the available funds, the release said. KDOT received 422 requests for projects totaling $275 million.

The Franklin County Commission submitted a list of three projects that could be funded through the stimulus, with the John Brown project being second on the commission’s list of priorities.

Other projects included an overlay on Labette Road between Colorado and Idaho roads and a mill and concrete overlay for a bridge on Sand Creek Road between Nebraska and Nevada roads.

The City of Ottawa also asked for funding for three road projects, including two on Cedar Street and another on K-68.

“You can’t argue with trying to get as much money out there as possible to spread throughout the (KDOT) district,” City Manager Richard Nienstedt said.

City commissioners still are hopeful that funds could be awarded to Ottawa for trail improvements or that improvements to Davis Road could receive funding through special appropriations, or earmarks.

Around the area, Anderson County will receive $70,000 for bridge rehabilitation, and the city of Osawatomie will receive $118,381 for resurfacing on Eighth Street.

Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.