Woodlawn repair must wait until after a few good rains

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Drivers who want North Woodlawn Boulevard repaired will have to wait for several good rains.

The City of Bel Aire was rebuilding Woodlawn between 37th Street North and 45th Street North when the road began to sink and crack. KSN reported in November that the project had to be paused.

The Kansas Department of Transportation investigated and found the problems were mainly related to an over-saturated subgrade. In some places, the subgrade moisture content was 10% greater than it should have been.

On Tuesday, the Bel Aire City Council approved the first steps toward designing a solution. Workers spent Wednesday and Thursday collecting more subsurface information and installing monitoring wells.

The wells will stay in place through two to three storms. The city will get information from the wells so it can work on a design solution.

“We understand the desire for a swift resolution; however, we want to take the time to ensure that roadway is reconstructed in a manner that will withstand the subsurface water and provide the citizens a roadway that will last for years to come,” the city said on social media.

The city has a website devoted to the Woodlawn expansion project, the issues that surfaced, and updates on the repair process. Click here to visit the site and learn more.