19 January 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — People who travel along 45th Street North may want to attend a public meeting next Tuesday. The City of Bel Aire will present its plan to improve the road from two to three lanes.
The project will extend from about 500 feet west of Oliver to 350 feet west of Woodlawn, connecting with the previous Woodlawn improvements.
The proposed plans include:
Replacing the asphalt mat and open ditch roadway
Deceleration lanes at Westlake, Krueger, Edgemoor, Auburn, Hedgerow and Farmstead
A new frontage road at the west end of the project for lots that currently front onto 45th Street
Keeping the existing frontage road from Auburn to Dundee and connecting it to the project
Replacing the existing sidewalk along the frontage road
Realigning the entrance into Sunrise Christian Academy to line up with Edgemoor
Intersection improvements at Oliver – a study is reviewing possible traffic signals or a roundabout
Moving the pedestrian crossing near Sunrise Christian Academy and adding some form of traffic signal
Replacing stormwater crossings near Glendale, Eagle Lake Park and Hillcrest
Building a new storm sewer as needed along the route
Adding a 10-foot-wide multi-use path on the north side of the road
Putting a 6-foot-wide sidewalk on the south side of the road to improve safety for children at Stucky Middle School
Click here to read more about the proposed plans.
The City of Bel Aire may need to acquire some property along the route. The city will work with a land acquisition agent to determine the property’s value in those cases. The agent will work with the property owner to negotiate a fair price.
It takes time to get the design plans approved and right-of-way acquisition, so the city says the tentative start date for the project is the summer of 2025.
The meeting
The public meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 30, in the Bel Aire City Hall community room, 7651 E. Central Park Avenue. It is scheduled from 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a short presentation at 6 p.m.
Attendees will be able to view exhibits, ask questions and share feedback.
Click here for the project page and to register for updates.