Month: May 2021

Several highway and road projects scheduled here

Several highway maintenance projects are scheduled in Wyandotte County, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Information from KDOT about upcoming highway and road projects:

In a May 18 project, the northbound I-635 ramp to eastbound I-70 will be closed. The right lane will be closed for eastbound I-70 at Park Drive.

The closures will allow for bridge inspection on eastbound I-70 at Park Drive, with work scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18.

KDOT construction projects affecting traffic include the 7th Street, U.S. 169 Herman Dillon bridge replacement project. Northbound 7th Street is closed southbound over the Kansas River in an ongoing project that began April 12. Truss and expansion joints are being repaired. Work is occurring during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, with completion scheduled in mid-June.

Ongoing Unified Government roadway construction continues on Leavenworth Road from 78th Street to 63rd Street. Work is occurring from daylight hours through Dec. 10. Two lanes are being reduced to one lane during this project. Grading, surfacing and storm sewer work is included.

A bike and pedestrian path project continues on Strong Avenue from 42nd to 24th streets, along 24th from Strong to Metropolitan Avenue, and along Metropolitan from 24th to 12th.

Work is occurring from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and Saturdays as necessary, with project completion expected at the end of May.

Curb and sidewalk construction will begin on the south side of Strong Avenue between 36th Street and 25th Street, where on-street parking will not be allowed, the sidewalk is closed and pedestrians are detoured to the north side of the road. Once the south side is completed, construction will begin on the north side of Strong. Parking will not be allowed in designated areas during construction.

I-670 bridge replacement on Missouri side could affect area traffic

The Baltimore Avenue and I-670 bridge replacement May 20-24 in Kansas City, Missouri, could affect some motorists’ travel plans, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The Missouri bridge replacement project plans demolition to begin May 20. Completion of the project is scheduled for December 2021.

The bridge will require the total closure of I-670 between I-35 and I-70 on the south side of the downtown loop from 8 p.m. Friday, May 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, May 24, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Several ramps will be closed for this project from May 21 to May 24, including the ramp from northbound I-35 to eastbound I-670; ramp from southbound I-35 to eastbound I-670; Truman Road ramp just past Broadway to eastbound I-670; ramp from Wyoming Street to eastbound I-670; ramp from eastbound I-70 to westbound I-670; ramp from northbound U.S. 71 to westbound I-670; ramp from 10th St. to westbound I-670; and ramp from westbound I-70 to westbound I-670.

KCKCC wins first women’s Jayhawk soccer title despite loss

Blue Devils (11-1-1) scheduled to meet Dodge City at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at home in first-round playoff action

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Jayhawk Conference champions! For the first time in the 9-year history of women’s soccer at Kansas City Kansas Community College, the Blue Devils stand No. 1 – and looking for more.

The championship comes despite the Blue Devils’ first loss of the season, a 2-1 setback at Coffeyville Saturday. The loss left the Blue Devils 11-1-1, a full game ahead of West Division champion Cowley which finished 10-2-1 after a 3-2 loss to Barton County Saturday.

KCKCC, which scored more goals (43) than any Division I team in the Jayhawk and gave up fewer goals (9), took a 2-1 decision from Cowley in their only meeting this season.

The Blue Devils are right back in action Tuesday when they play host to Dodge City (4-9) at 6:30 p.m. in opening round play in the NJCAA Region VI Division I playoffs. An eight-team field, a berth in the NJCAA national tournament goes to the winner.

Semifinals are scheduled for Saturday in Wichita with the championship contest Sunday. The national tournament will be played June 3-8 in Evans, Georgia.

The Blue Devils ended seven years of frustration last year when coach Shawn Uhlenhake’s team finished 13-4, the most wins ever. Until that breakout season, the Blue Devils were never close to a break-even season and were a combined 24-75-7 over those seasons.

Coffeyville took a 1-0 halftime lead on an unassisted goal by Jaden Davis and made it 2-0 on Emile Hannah’s goal before KCKCC finally got its lone goal in the final 10 minutes, Maddie Broeker scoring on an assist from Melissa Siegel.

“We didn’t play very well, kind of a reality check,” Uhlenhake said. “We’ve gotten away with sloppy play the last of games and it caught up with us. We just couldn’t connect a thing; a very difficult game to watch.”

Dodge City and KCKCC will be meeting for the second time this season, the Blue Devils winning 5-0 at home in the fourth game of the season.

“Dodge has had some interesting scores lately and scoring some goals,” warned Uhlenhake. “It’s basically a new season now. I hope we can start it like we did the start of the season.”

More rain in today’s forecast

National Weather Service graphic

After some patchy fog this morning, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue today, according to the National Weather Service.

A few strong thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon and evening, the weather service said. Heavier rains are possible Wednesday.

Showers and thunderstorms will continue each day the remainder of this week, with continued rises in area streams and rivers, according to the weather service.

Turkey Creek rose to 52.7 feet on May 16, then fell to 48.4 feet on Tuesday morning. (Graphic from NOAA – National Weather Service)

Rivers in Wyandotte County are currently below flood stage. The Kansas River at 23rd Street, in the Armourdale area of Kansas City, Kansas, was at 22.41 feet at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday. Flood stage there is 33 feet. Turkey Creek at Southwest Boulevard reached a high of 52.7 feet on May 16, where 55 feet is action stage and 61 feet is flood stage. It was well below flood stage at 48.4 feet at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The Missouri River above Parkville, where the gauge is at I-435 on the Missouri River between Wyandotte County and Platte County, was well below flood stage at 11.5 feet at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday. Flood stage is 25 feet there.

Today, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 77 with a south wind of 3 to 6 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected during the daytime.

Tonight, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers are likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 9 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 64 with a southeast wind of 5 to 7 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch is possible.

Wednesday, there is a 90 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm, the weather service said. The high will be near 76 with a south southeast wind of 9 to 15 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Wednesday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, according to the weather service. The low will be around 65 with a south wind of 9 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm. The high will be near 77 with a south wind of 8 to 13 mph, gusting to 21 mph. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Thursday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a low of 67, according to the weather service. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Friday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers, with a high near 80, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 66, according to the weather service.

Saturday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., with a high near 82, the weather service said.

Saturday night, the low will be around 65, according to the weather service.

Sunday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 83, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 66, according to the weather service.

Monday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a high near 83, the weather service said.