Manhattan road projects shift traffic flow ahead of new school year

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Traffic flow across Manhattan is shifting this week as ongoing road projects reach new phases and additional construction begins. On Sunday, Aug. 9, Anderson Avenue reopened to through traffic, marking a milestone in the city's two-year water, street and stormwater improvement project. The latest closure, in place since July 27, allowed crews to complete Phase 2A paving between Connecticut Avenue and Canfield Drive.

Meanwhile, Riley County crews on Monday, Aug. 3, closed a section of Casement Road north of Brookmont Drive to repair a damaged guardrail, with detours in place through Thursday, Aug. 6. Later this month, the Kansas Department of Transportation will launch a pedestrian safety project on Fort Riley Boulevard and Kansas Highway 18, which will extend sidewalks and improve crossings.

The infrastructure updates coincide with the start of the academic year for Manhattan-Ogden Unified School District 383, which welcomes students back for a half day on Tuesday, Aug. 11, with the first full day Wednesday, Aug. 12. Daily traffic patterns around the district will look different this year under a new three-tier bell schedule, adopted to stretch the district's limited pool of bus drivers: elementary schools now run from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the high school from 8 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., early learning centers from 8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., and middle schools from 8:40 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. Early learning centers and Manhattan Virtual Academy begin Aug. 17. To prepare for the modified routines, city public works crews recently repainted crosswalks and updated signage in school zones to improve pedestrian safety.

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