6th Street Construction Update

City of Osawatomie officials are pleased to report that the total reconstruction of 6th Street is approaching 25% completion as of Monday, April 22nd, 2024. This project, which is the single largest road rehabilitation project in the community's history, officially broke ground in February and work has continued steadily thanks to a mild end-of-winter season. Construction began at the south end of the corridor between Kelly Avenue and the southern levee with initial construction activity including critical upgrades to the area stormwater system, changes to elevation, and the complete removal of existing road bed. While contractors focused heavy construction efforts in this segment, utility workers moved north toward Lincoln Avenue and relocated and replaced the water main from under the current roadbed to within the City's right-of-way. Several temporary water shut-offs have been required over the last two weeks as crews performed final tie-ins to the new main and removed the old infrastructure. These service interruptions continue today for the 6th and Carr segment of the water system. This large-scale utility relocation and replacement plan ahead of construction mitigates future damage to the newly constructed road.

Within the overall 24-25% completion, the project is currently estimated to be:

• 90% Complete - Water Line Replacement
• 50% Complete - Stormwater Improvements
• 5% Complete - Concrete Installation

Concrete installation between Kelly and the levee began Friday, April 19th, 2024, as Killough Construction, the project's lead contractor, laid the first section of the northbound lane. This portion of concrete will be tested at the five-day mark for strength (known as a "break test") and must pass before the southbound lane can be poured due to the heavy equipment and many moving pieces of the operation. Conditions permitting, traffic is planned to be resumed in a limited capacity following the successful completion of both sections. Additional temporary closures may be necessary as contractors pour concrete for curbs, gutters, and sidewalks.

While the southern portion of the reconstruction was subject to minor delays due to unexpected issues with the original road base, the project is still ahead of the original overall timeline. Per industry standards, City staff and contractors figure several variables into the timeline (weather trends, supplies and equipment availability, etc.) but other unknown variables can cause unforeseen delays especially when crews begin to work on original portions of the road that are several decades old.

City of Osawatomie Public Works Director Silsbee noted in February that, due to the complexity of stormwater improvements in the area, the Kelly/levee portion of the project is the only section of the overall reconstruction that has a full closure (both lanes) planned. For the remainder of the 6th Street project, which is estimated to last a full 10-12 months, contractors plan to alternate working zones to continuously allow southbound traffic at all times though the open lane may switch depending on active work. This "zipper" approach is still the plan as crews prepare to advance construction north.

For more information on the reconstruction of 6th Street, please visit our project homepage.