Construction kicked off for the Kansas Avenue road improvement project on the morning of March 1, according to Edwardsville officials.
Currently, road closures are in place for through traffic on Kansas Avenue from the I-435 south bound ramp going west to 98th Street.
Traffic going north and south along 98th Street will remain uninterrupted at this time, according to Edwardsville officials.
Additionally, Kansas Avenue 400 feet west of the 98th Street intersection has also been closed. Detour routes are labeled. This work represents the first phase of construction.
Kansas Avenue has dealt with a number of complications involving drainage, visibility, and width. The road project will address these issues.
The project is primarily funded by grant money awarded by the Mid-America Regional Council through the 2015-2016 Surface Transportation-Highway Bridge Program.
The road improvements will be similar to the work done to Edwardsville Drive in 2012, according to a spokesman. The project will improve approximately one mile of road and three large culverts will be replaced or extended.
The roadway will be curbed and guttered in addition to being widened to 32 feet from curb to curb. The intersection of 98th Street and Kansas Avenue will be reconstructed. Affected driveway approaches will be replaced and new sidewalks will be installed on the south side of the road. Sight distances will also be improved throughout the project.
The total length of the project is expected to last throughout 2016. Copies of the preliminary road design are available at Edwardsville city hall offices upon request. Ongoing updates will be provided on the city’s website (www.edwardsvilleks.org) and Facebook account (www.facebook.com/EdwardsvilleKS).