DODGE CITY, Ala. – The Dodge City Town Council last month moved forward with plans to replace the drainage structure under County Road 216/Beech Grove Road at Simpson Creek. At Thursday’s meeting, the council weighed its options, paving the way for the project to begin.
Stephen Blankenship of McGehee Engineering, the firm hired in May to complete the project, which the council is calling the “Town of Dodge City – CR 216 – Bridge Culvert Replacement Project,” was on-hand again Thursday to present options for the council to consider.
Option 1: Replace the existing bridge culvert with a triple barrel 10”x5” box culvert. This option would require a slight adjustment to the alignment of the stream flowing from the north on the east side of County Road 216. It would also require temporary construction easement and optional drainage easements from property owners that will be affected by the construction. The approximate cost range for the first option is $75,000 to $125,000.
Option 2: Same as Option 1, but with a re-alignment of the road to eliminate the existing compound curve. It would require a realignment of the streams flowing from the north on the east side of County Road 216, roadway widening and leveling, temporary construction easements, optional drainage easements, and optional property acquisitions from property owners who are affected by option 2. The approximate cost range for the second option is $225,000 to $275,000.
Councilman Jason Burney made a motion to go with the first option. Councilman Anthony Todd disputed Burney’s motion, citing wrecks which he said occur at the site because of the curve, and saying the road re-alignment in the second option could potentially help. Mayor Tawana Canada, though, noted some of the landowners affected by the second option don’t want to give up their land.
“Ricky Joe (McDonald) would be one we’d have to purchase the property from and I don’t blame him, it’s his property, he wants a fair price for it if we go that route,” said Canada.
Burney made another motion for the council to go with the first option, which passed with a unanimous vote.
The Dodge City Town Council meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Dodge City Town Hall. The next council meeting will be July 11.
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