McPHERSON, Kan. — A number of area residents shared their thoughts on improvements that can be made along US 56 between McPherson and east of Marion. The Kansas Department of Transportation held an open house Tuesday at the McPherson Community Building where residents could look at options and give their suggestions.
KDOT spokesperson Ashley Perez said the feedback received at the open house, and comments submitted online, will go into the preliminary design process currently under development.
Among the things being looked at are adding paved shoulders the 27 miles of the corridor that don’t have them, passing lanes at a number of locations, and one idea from McPherson County Sheriff Jerry Montagne to add more turn lanes along the corridor. Montagne said adding shoulders will be a very important safety component
Among data presented were traffic counts, what goes into various options, and considerations to be looked at. Those are primarily in Marion County, but one is the area around the Producers Ag terminal between Galva and Canton. Several people suggested specific locations between Galva and Canton for turn lanes along with locations to the east of Canton and around Hillsboro.
Another location that was brought up was the intersection of US 56 and Limestone Road east of McPherson. Limestone is the county extension of First Street in McPherson, and sees a lot of traffic coming into the north part of the city.
Perez said the information gathered will be included as part of the development process that could at some time lead to a project, timelines for which cannot be determined right now.
Another open house will take place Wednesday afternoon from 4:30 until 6:30 at the Marion Community Center.
