City plans to ease traffic on southwest side
8:23 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2008
The intersection of Fairlawn and Interstate 470 is where chaos and disorder meet.
"There could easily be some wrecks with the way we were trying to get off to get on to the turn," said Peggy Fort, a visitor to Topeka.
There are four types of drivers who meet at this intersection. The most popular are those who want to go West on 29th.
They take up the right turn lane of the Westbound interstate off ramp to try and make the wide turn into the left turning lane on Fairlawn.
"It's a really big hassle to try to turn," said Topekan Preston Christensen. "It's a blind turn."
Then there are those who want to go north on Fairlawn, who become impatient and make their own turning lane.
Combine that with the drivers who want to go south on Fairlawn, who then battle against the drivers trying to get on the freeway to go East on I-470.
"Really should be causing some accidents," Christensen said. "I'm surprised we don't see more."
And that's where elevation parkway comes in. It's the city's plan to build a road between 37th and Gage, and 41st and Wanamaker.
Tuesday, the council is expected to give the green light on a $1.4 million proposal to begin buying land for the project.
"We've updated the plan," said City Communications Manager David Bevens. "Preliminary designs are over, now this is for final design and the acquisition of right of way."
The plan would eliminate a lot of the traffic at 29th and Fairlawn, so not only would these cars not have to sit in line, they'd also be able to commute safer.
"We have a lot of people as you can see behind me here that are coming off the highway and the thought is, by them getting off at Gage, it will relieve the pressure off this intersection (at 29th and Fairlawn)," Bevens said.
The pressure won''t be off anytime soon. The project is expected to take at least 4 years.
But if it is completed, city officials hope everyone will be in for a much smoother ride.
The plan for elevation parkway isn't new. It's been an on-again, off-again project for the city for the past 12 years.
We'll be at the city council meeting tomorrow to let you know what members decide.
Comments
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Jul. 15, 2008 at 1:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)kswx29 (anonymous)
Unless everyone exiting on the Fairlawn exit is going to Wanamaker, that parkway will be of little use relieving congestion at the intersection.
Jul. 16, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)kiryn (anonymous)
I agree. Many of those drivers are not going to drive all the way out to 41st and Wanamaker just to back track to 29th street. Instead, the parkway should connect directly to Fairlawn, that way drivers can either choose to take 37th (which is closer) to Wanamaker or go to 29th street in a safe manner.
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