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The Engineering Department works to improve and maintain the County roadway system to provide safe travel for the public. We apply for grants from the State and Federal governments that can cover a large part of the costs for new bridge construction and safety improvements such as signing, pavement markings, and intersection improvements. The department provides inspection services on road and bridge construction projects, conducts traffic and drainage studies, and issues utility permits for installations within the County right of way. Our cartographer updates maps and information for appraisals and deeds, keeps the NextGen 911 information up to date for emergency responders, and develops various maps containing information for roads, jurisdictional boundaries, bike routes, scenic routes, and other items of interest. The Engineering office also maintains road records, section corner reports, and assists surveyors needing information. The County Engineer serves as the Floodplain Manager and assists homeowners, landowners, and developers in identifying flood zones and ensuring that new construction meets federal flood zone requirements.
NEWS RELEASE - July 6, 2021
Work to begin on Redwing Intersection Improvement Project
Work is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 12th, for the improvement of the intersection at the east end of Redwing on K-4 highway. The project will improve the turning movements to and from NE 60 Avenue by constructing wider turning radii, allowing trucks and farm equipment to make the turn in a safer manner. An existing concrete drainage box under NE 60 Avenue that sits close to the north edge of K-4 will be removed and replaced with a new concrete box further to the north, and a second existing box under K-4 on the west side of the intersection will be extended to the north. This will make room for the wider turning radii to be constructed. NE 60 Avenue on the north side of K-4 will be closed during construction, but K-4 highway will remain open with a lower speed zone through the construction area. Detour signing will be set up to direct traffic to use alternate county blacktop roads to get to the Beaver area and other points to the north that normally are accessed via NE 60 Avenue. L&M Contractors, Inc., of Great Bend is the prime contractor for the project, which was chosen for funding through KDOT’s Cost Share Program. Under the agreement KDOT will reimburse the County for 75% of the construction costs up to a maximum KDOT participation of $206,745.00. L&M Contractors submitted the low bid in the amount of $294,531.90. The project is expected to take 3-4 months to complete. For more information contact Barry McManaman, the Barton County Engineer, at 620-793-1808.
North Washington Avenue at North 30 Road Intersection Improvements Project
New and improved traffic safety features will be added as a part of this project, which is tentatively scheduled to go out for bids in the summer of 2021. The planned improvements will include the installation of overhead mast arms with warning lights, advance signing that will actively monitor approaching traffic on each leg of the intersection, and improvements to existing signing and pavement markings.
NW 50 Road Box Bridge Extension Project
The existing concrete box bridge just east of NW 10 Avenue will be widened and the shoulders will be flattened to eliminate the existing drop-off at the edges of the road. The project will provide recoverable slopes in the event a vehicle leaves the road, and there will no longer be a need for guardrail along the road. This project is part of the project at North Washington Avenue/North 30 Road and is tentatively scheduled to go out for bids in the summer of 2021.