From the City of Russell...
For the past several years, the Russell City Council has made improving our roadways a priority. Most recently, the reconstruction of S. Fossil Street from Wichita to Dorrance Street, the mill and overlay of S. Fossil Street from Dorrance to the south city limits, and the reconstruction of N. Lincoln Street from Wichita Avenue to 10th Street, and the planned mill and overlay of W. Wichita.
Continuing the City's efforts to improve our roadways, the City Council authorized a traffic study to address safety issues related to the proximity of the intersections that connect S. Fossil Street to the frontage roads and to consider additional traffic generated from the area's growth. One of the recommendations from the study is to realign the access points from S. Fossil to the frontage road. City staff began to secure funding to begin implementing the traffic study recommendations.
The first project from the recommendation of the traffic study is to move the first access point intersection, in front of the 24/7 Travel Store, to the North to reduce congestion at the intersection and help preserve traffic flow and safety on S. Fossil Street. Edwards Avenue, on the East side of S. Fossil, will be extended to the East to provide a new public street connection from US-281 to 26 acres of newly annexed land for commercial development.
The project will begin on Monday, August 22, 2022. There will be times when for short times, the access points off S. Fossil Street will be closed. The City and general contractor will make efforts to minimize impacts on adjacent businesses. This project includes stormwater improvements and new water and sewer lines.
This $3.3 million project is being funded partly by $2 million in grant funds and is scheduled for completion by May 2023, weather permitting.