Month: September 2020

New interchange at I-70 and Turner Diagonal to open Sept. 8

The new intersection at I-70 and the Turner Diagonal is scheduled to open Sept. 8. (KDOT illustration)
Information from KDOT

A new diverging diamond interchange at I-70 and the Turner Diagonal in Wyandotte County will open Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The new interchange is part of the Turner Diagonal Interchange Reconfiguration project and will provide better access to businesses along Turner Diagonal and allow freight traffic to move efficiently through the corridor, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Diverging diamond interchanges improve safety and operations, particularly for left turn movements and trucks, according to KDOT.

This project will also add a new shared-use-path and sidewalk from Riverview Avenue through the new DDI and connect to existing sidewalks at State Avenue. The new pedestrian facilities will enhance mobility opportunities along Turner Diagonal, particularly as new developments are added, a KDOT spokesman stated.

The DDI moves traffic to the left side of the road between the interchange ramps. Drivers approaching the interchange can either turn right onto I-70 or proceed through the crossover intersections to the left side of the road, according to KDOT

At the next intersection, drivers make a ‘free-flowing’ left turn onto I-70 without waiting for a green turn signal or continue through the intersection and cross back to the right side of the road to continue on the Turner Diagonal.

Advantages of the DDI include:
• Being able to accommodate higher left-turning movements both onto and off the highway, improving efficiency of the interchange.
• A reduction in the total number of conflict points inherent to a traditional diamond interchange, thus improving safety.
• A shortened overall traffic signal length, reducing delays and improving safety and efficiency.
• Construction costs and time are shortened by reducing the width of the bridge needed to accommodate left turns.

The KDOT spokesman urged all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. To stay aware of all road construction projects across Kansas go to www.kandrive.org or call 5-1-1. Motorists were asked to drive safely and always wear their seat belts, according to the spokesman.

BPU to meet Wednesday

The Board of Public Utilities will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, in a remote Zoom meeting.

On the agenda for the meeting area are a visitors’ time, a COVID-19 update, CARES Act update, July financial report, electric operations update, open health care enrollment report, miscellaneous comments and board comments.

Access to the meeting will be available through the internet and telephone.

To access the Zoom meeting, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84523139724.

Interested persons also may call, toll-free, 1-888-475-4499.
The meeting ID number is 845 2313-9724.

The board information packet is available at https://www.bpu.com/Portals/0/pdf/board-information-packet-9-2-20.pdf

Members of the community who wish to speak to the board must be logged in to the Zoom meeting via the internet using their browser or the Zoom application. Members of the public will be asked to raise their hand to signal they wish to address the board.

During the public comment section of the agenda, community members will be asked to provide their name and address and will then have 5 minutes to speak.

The Zoom application is free and can be downloaded from Zoom for the following platforms

PC – https://zoom.us/support/download

Mac – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zoom-cloud-meetings/id546505307

Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings&hl=en

iOS – https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/zoom/id530594111

Persons may also join from any web browser -https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84523139724

High near 78 today

There is a chance of rain today in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)

There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms through 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service forecast. The high will be near 78.

Although there is a 70 percent chance of rain and storms today, radar maps currently don’t show anything in Wyandotte County.

Severe weather is not expected with this activity, but periods of moderate to heavy rain could cause some minor flooding, the weather service said.

Today, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 78 and an east northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon, the weather service said. Between a quarter and a half-inch is possible.

Tonight, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., with a low of 63, according to the weather service. A northwest wind will be 3 to 6 mph.

Wednesday, patchy fog is possible before 9 a.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 84 with a north northwest wind of 3 to 5 mph.

Wednesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 64 and a south wind of 5 mph becoming calm after midnight, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 86 and a light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning, the weather service said.

Thursday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 56, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be sunny with a high near 82, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 60, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 85, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 65, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 85, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 60, according to the weather service.

On Monday, Labor Day, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 75, the weather service said.