Shawnee to Temporarily Close Monticello Road for Repairs

News Summary

Shawnee will close Monticello Road at 60th Street from August 4 to August 8 for emergency stormwater pipe repairs. The work is necessary due to deteriorating infrastructure and aims to prevent sinkhole risks. City officials plan more extensive repairs in September following heavy rainfall in July. The repairs are funded by a recent bond issue and will replace aging corrugated pipes with more durable materials. Traffic will be redirected while efforts focus on swift completion to ensure safety, especially for nearby Mill Valley High School.

Shawnee will temporarily close Monticello Road at 60th Street for emergency stormwater pipe repairs from August 4 to August 8. The repairs are necessary to address deteriorating stormwater infrastructure and prevent potential sinkhole risks in the area.

City officials have indicated that the ongoing repairs represent a short-term fix. A more extensive full-scale closure is scheduled for September to carry out complete repairs. The closures come after heavy rainfall in July exacerbated existing conditions, causing increased concerns about sinkholes alongside the road.

Currently, road plates are in place covering the damage near Mill Valley High School, where a significant sinkhole was recently reported. This sinkhole emerged due to a failed underground stormwater pipe that had reached the end of its operational lifespan. The problematic pipe is a 69-inch by 96-inch corrugated metal arch pipe that was installed in 1999.

The city’s Public Works Department is managing the urgent repairs, which are funded through a bond issue approved by Shawnee voters in 2023 via the Parks and Pipes sales tax. The budget includes approximately $2 million allocated specifically for the necessary repairs to both the sinkhole and the stormwater pipe system.

As part of the project, the failing corrugated stormwater pipes will be replaced with new reinforced concrete pipes, which are expected to last up to 100 years, significantly outlasting the older materials. A portion of the budget, nearly $995,000, will be allocated for a geopolymer lining in the new construction, enhancing the structural integrity of the repairs.

Concerned residents, especially those living near the school, are hopeful for a swift resolution, as classes will commence soon. Detours will be implemented, leading traffic away from the closure along Shawnee Mission Parkway, Woodland Drive, and Johnson Drive.

In the context of the city’s stormwater management, approximately half of the system consists of corrugated metal pipes, with plans in place to systematically replace these older pipes with more durable options. This proactive approach aims to minimize the risk of similar failures in the future.

Despite the construction and the associated concerns, Mill Valley High School will not be affected in its operations during the repair process. The school is part of the De Soto School District, but responsibility for the stormwater system resides with the city of Shawnee.

To summarize, the emergency stormwater repairs on Monticello Road, set to take place from August 4 to August 8, are crucial for maintaining road safety and preventing further infrastructural damage. The comprehensive repairs in September aim to resolve the issue long-term and will enhance the durability of the stormwater system in Shawnee.

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Additional Resources

• KSHB: Emergency Repairs Near Mill Valley High School
• Wikipedia: Sinkhole
• Johnson County Post: Shawnee Approves Sinkhole Repair
• Google Search: Road Infrastructure Repair
• KMBC: Tornadoes in Johnson County
• Google Scholar: Stormwater Management
• Johnson County Post: Shawnee Development Projects
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Emergency Repairs Infrastructure
• Johnson County Post: EV Charging Stations
• Google News: Infrastructure Challenges