CAPTION: The road closure at 17th and Monroe in Hutchinson will be opened by the end of business on August 27. This road closure was due to leaking valves in the water line. Several valves were replaced. CREDIT KATE IRELAN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE
By Kate Irelan
Brian Clennan, director of Hutchinson Public Works Department, gave an update on two major road closures Monday in an interview with The Hutchinson Tribune.
“The road closure at 17th and Monroe should be open by the end of business on Tuesday, August 27,” said Clennan.
What happened at this intersection were leaking valves due to age and rusted bolts. Clennan said that the water line valves were leaking and they had to dig them up and replace them, and that there were several valves in this state of decay.
“The bolts were rusted through and not salvageable,” said Clennan. So they had to replace the entire valve.
Clennan also gave an update for the 4th Street road construction.
“Justin Karam is the construction manager, and I am still learning that part of the city engineering,” Clennan said.
Karam was not available for comment when this article was written.
Clennan said that the 4th Street project is part of the annual arterial mill and overlay street maintenance program. They have been pushing to get a completion schedule from the contractor, Pearson Construction out of Wichita. “There is still quite a bit of work to do and traffic control is still set up,” said Clennan.
When asked if there are upcoming projects people need to be aware of, Clennan said that there is a waterline replacement scheduled to start in the fall which will be east of Hwy K-61 and between 4th and 11th streets.
For more information about the Public Works department, visit their website, https://www.hutchgov.com/466/Public-Works-Department
