By SALINA POST
The City of Salina is planning an improvement project for part of W. Magnolia Road and you're invited to a meeting about it.
What the city is billing as the W. Magnolia Road Project-Open House Meeting is scheduled for 4:30-6 p.m. Sept. 7 in the College Center Conference Room at K-State Salina, 2310 Centennial Road.
Through the project, the city plans to improve W. Magnolia Road from east of Centennial Road to the southbound ramps of Interstate 135. Plans include new pavement, curbing and guttering, and a stormwater sewer system, according to information from the city.
"The intersection of Magnolia Road and Virginia Drive is a major focus of this project; as the design team looks at various options for improving access for the Fairfield Inn & Suites and Menards. A 5-foot-wide sidewalk and a 10-foot-wide multi-use path will also be added to this corridor to improve pedestrian and bicycle access in this part of Salina," the City of Salina noted in a news release issued late Wednesday afternoon.
Other information about the project, as provided by the City of Salina, includes the following.
Improving connectivity
This project will greatly improve the connectivity between the heart of the Salina and the major stakeholders that are located near this corridor, including Kansas State University - Salina Campus and the Salina Regional Airport. These proposed improvements also will also help prepare for the new housing and commercial development being planned for near Virginia Drive.
A designated impact street
W. Magnolia Road has been identified as an Impact Street in the City of Salina’s 2010 Comprehensive Plan, and this designation helps guide the design of the project. As an Impact Street, W. Magnolia Road will have a higher standard of aesthetic design throughout the corridor. This can be achieved by streetscaping with plantings, trees, medians and public amenities such as benches and enhanced crosswalks.
Timing
WSP is the design team that will be providing concept plans to the City of Salina in September, which will show the proposed geometric improvements based on feedback from a stakeholder meeting and a public open house meeting. These concept plans will then be used to enhance the grant applications on which WSP will work with the city to gain additional funding opportunities to finish the design and construct this project.