Topekans upset about Wanamaker construction project
4:26 p.m. Saturday, September 27, 2008
Construction for a solid median on Wanamaker began September 15, but one day later, Best Buy complained to the city council it was already losing money.
That's when the city showed us the first option it presented to the property owners called "pork chop" medians.
At first, two out of three property owners said no to the project.
But after the city gave them a second chance, all three said yes.
No one knows yet who is going to have to pay for the $86,000 change, but the people 49 News talked to say no matter what, the money is going to come out of their pockets.
Wanamaker construction coverage
- Topekans upset about Wanamaker construction project (Sept. 27, 2008
- Businesses feel misled about construction project, might have to pay (Sept. 26, 2008
- Poll Question: What do you favor: Fixing a dangerous stretch of that road or other street repairs?
- Wanamaker construction worries many drivers (Sept. 7, 2008)
- City plans to tear up busy stretch of Wanamaker for public's safety (Sept. 5, 2008)
"It's pretty annoying," Kyle Kofoid said.
Kofoid says he is glad the city is not putting in the solid median on Wanamaker Road.
"There is an awful lot of congestion but it can't be nearly the most dangerous area of town for traffic, and I think there's other parts of town that they need to be a little more concerned about," Kofoid said.
But not everyone feels the same way.
"I wish they would have gone ahead and put the solid median through limiting the traffic turning in front of people. Either that or went ahead and widened out the lanes to make it larger to start with," Scott Howard said.
"I think the construction project was a good idea, and I'm quite disturbed that it was started and then stopped," Martha Everts said.
Everts says the construction should not have stopped because of business complaints.
"I am aggravated with the businesses for not taking action earlier, and I am angry with the city for having started it and stopped on the whim of the businesses," she said.
The construction do-over comes with a price tag of $86,000.
The city is still deciding who will foot the bill.
But some say if it's the property owners businesses may be forced to pass the cost on to customers.
"It always does fall back on us the people," Howard said.
Coming soon, local, young television talent will shine on 49 News Kidcasts. Check back to see local kids, 4th through 8th grade, give the weather on TV.
Comments
Note: ktka.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor vouch for the factual claims made therein. Nor do we review every post.
Sep. 27, 2008 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)adurtyoldman (anonymous)
City of Topeka:1 Taxpayers:0
Sep. 28, 2008 at 7:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)Dave415 (anonymous)
The city council should be abolished. send them all home asap. They have yet to accomplish anything, except push this city deeper into debt. The voters should have the option of putting Consolidation back on the ballot. I have lived in this city my entire life and I have never seen the overall conditions this bad. The condition of our streets is a great representation of the condition of our council, full of pot holes. Lets fill them all in and put this city on a winning track. The citizens of this great city deserve far much better that they are and have been receiving.
Sep. 28, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)charmednks (anonymous)
R U guys kidding the medians need to be put in proper places, people are getting hurt everyday on Wanamaker not to mention the traffic is always slow slow because they can't just drive and keep the flow going. One thing I have observed is that traffic is flowing now ever since they blocked it off, when usually it's a mess to get down Wanamaker. The City needs to rethink this out and implement what they already have started, or does BEST BUY have the power over this project, interesting...
Sep. 28, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)dinab8 (anonymous)
Charmed....are YOU kidding me?? I was just on Wanamaker and the traffic was maybe going 2 miles an hour or completely stopped. The business owners were angry because the city approved the plan to do the pork chop medians to start with. Then the city council tried to pull it by the business owners and go ahead with the solid median. The owners complained, which they should have and I support them and I am glad they did. I think putting a solid median is the most ignorant idea the city council has ever had. Why not a simple traffic light? We have traffic lights every block on Topeka Blvd. I agree with Dave ...FIRE ALL the city council members and get this city back on track!
Sep. 29, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)adurtyoldman (anonymous)
I'm lucky. I manage to stay far away from Wanamaker unless I
can't find something in my neck of the woods. Too many crazy drivers in the rich bi--h part of the city.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)