It has been almost a year since the Sabetha City Commission approved a walking trail and repairs to Sixth Street, but citizens will have to wait just a bit longer for construction to begin.

At its Aug. 13 meeting, the commission approved a bid in the amount of $1,811,662.01 from J & K Contracting of Junction City for repairs to Sixth Street. Those repairs included repaving Sixth Street and installing a water line under the street.

Due to an issue with the utilities and design, work on Sixth Street has been delayed. City Administrator Doug Allen said that even though it was planned to start tearing up Sixth Street this fall, no construction will begin until next spring. However, Allen said, citizens will see some work being done on Sixth Street, as crews will work on the utilities during the winter months.

The walking trail portion of the project also will likely begin next spring. Bids for that portion of the project will be accepted early in the spring, with construction hopefully beginning within a few months after a bid is accepted.

“We are trying to stay away from the north end [of Sixth Street] during the spring, summer and early fall next year,” Allen said, indicating the construction would begin on the south end by Main Street and move toward the north end by the end of soccer season 2019.

About the project

The Sixth Street Project will include a concrete street with curbs, a walking trail running alongside the newly paved street, replacement of the water line under the street and electrical upgrades. The street improvement will allow for the five-foot wide walking trail.

The project will cost an estimated $2,077,000, as follows:

• Repaving Sixth Street – $1,577,000

• Walking Trail (city portion) – $271,200

• Electrical upgrades – $100,000

• Rainbow Cable – $20,000

• Water line under Sixth Street – $254,000

The City will have a short-term, eight-year loan to finance this project, with a $300,000 annual payment.

The remaining cost of the Walking Trail — $299,760 — will be paid for through the Transportation Alternatives Grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation, which the city was awarded toward the project in October 2017.