Category: Communities

Lane closure planned Tuesday on I-635 Gibbs bridge project

The remainder of the former Gibbs Road Bridge is shown in this photo. Only the bridge piers remain. (KDOT photo)

Southbound I-635 left lane at Gibbs Road will be closed for eight consecutive weeks, 24/7 round the clock, beginning after morning rush hour on Tuesday, May 20, through late July, for bridge pier construction work on the new Gibbs Road Bridge over I-635.

Traffic will be directed through the project work zone via cones, signage and concrete barrier, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The posted speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph through the project work zone during this eight-week closure.

Updated daily traffic information for this project and for the entire Kansas City metro area can be viewed online any time at: www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.

The Kansas Department of Transportation urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and slow down when approaching and driving through the project work zone.

The scheduled completion date for the entire project is early September 2014, weather permitting.

KCKCC prepares for commencement ceremonies

by Kelly Rogge

Kansas City Kansas Community College will be celebrating new beginnings this week during several graduation and pinning events.

Five commencement ceremonies will be taking place as the 2013-14 academic year wraps up. Including graduates from December 2013, May 2014 and Summer 2014, KCKCC will have approximately 950 students graduate with associate degrees or certificates this year. These ceremonies include:

·         Respiratory Therapy Pinning – 7 p.m. May 19 at Providence Medical Center.

·         GED Graduation – 6 p.m. May 20 at the KCKCC Field House.

·         Nurses’ Pinning – 8 p.m. May 20 at the KCKCC Field House.

·         KCKCC Graduation – 8 p.m. May 21 at the KCKCC Field House.

·         Physical Therapy Assistant Graduation – 7 p.m. May 22 at the KCKCC-TEC.

Major Gen. Karen E. LeDoux, U.S. Army, will be the speaker at the KCKCC graduation Wednesday. LeDoux has a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo. and a MMS degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.  She has also attended the Combined Arms and Services Staff School and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

She has served as a training officer, deputy commander and commander of the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program Support Unit, commander of the 94th Training Division, commander of the 55th Sustainment Brigade and Commanding General of the Army Material Command – Southwest Asia/G4.

LeDoux is currently the deputy program manager and research fellow for logistics and technology group at the Logistics Management Institute in McLean, Va. Among the many U.S. decorations and badges she has received are the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.

All commencement ceremonies are open to the public.

For more information on Kansas City Kansas Community College, visit its website at www.kckcc.edu.

KU architecture students to display ideas for KCK healthy campus

Several University of Kansas architecture students will display their ideas for the Kansas City, Kan., downtown healthy campus on May 23.

The ideas will be on display at 8 a.m. May 23 at the CHWC office, 2 S. 14th St., Kansas City, Kan.

The healthy campus is proposed near Big 11 park and lake.

Several students at KU have spent time this semester to study the area and develop individual, alternative programs, site proposals and individual community center buildings.

The students’ approaches align with many of the initiatives that are currently being discussed regarding the 10th Street bikeway proposal, the Complete Streets Program, urban agriculture, environmental and nutritional education activities, and providing futsal courts and other physical activities on the site.