83rd Street - Gleason Road to Clare Road

Apache Road is a private street and will not be improved beyond what is necessary to reconnect the roadway to 83rd Street. The portion of Apache Road in public right of way will be asphalt pavement, but the remainder of improvements for the reconnection will be gravel. Any driveways affected will be reconstructed as needed in kind. The City will replace the stop sign and street name sign if affected during construction.

The engineering team is carefully evaluating drainage improvements for the project. The team is committed to maintaining or improving current drainage conditions, including evaluating downstream impacts and looking for opportunities to implement water quality basins or similar infrastructure to treat stormwater runoff. It is unlikely that proposed drainage conditions will warrant the extension of the box culvert south to the existing stream.

The proposed roadway configuration, including roundabouts and a median from Gleason Road to Clare Road, was evaluated and selected during the conceptual design phase to address the increase in crashes (rear ends and left turns from side streets) along the corridor. These elements were chosen to improve safety, traffic flow and long-term operational efficiency. To allow left turns onto the side streets, the City would have to align Belmont Drive (north of 83rd) and Apache Road (south of 83rd), as well as Barth Road (north of 83rd) and McCormick Drive (south of 83rd). This would entail purchasing numerous houses. 

The Lenexa Fire Department has reviewed this concept in detail and expressed support for the same design presented at the public open house.

The addition of streetlights is a common practice for new roadways and roadway improvements in the city, including residential areas. Streetlights help improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, and homeowners and are seen as an important improvement for the 83rd Street corridor.

The City of Lenexa favors the use of modernized streetlights which reduce excessive illumination beyond what is needed. Our design team will perform a photometric analysis of the proposed streetlights and evaluate impacts to adjacent properties.

We understand and recognize that widening 83rd Street could increase road noise compared to what exists today. While full sound barriers are not part of the design, we will evaluate options such as landscaping or other treatments that may help reduce noise impacts near residences.

If you approach your driveway or street access from the opposite side of the median, you will proceed to the nearest roundabout to effectively U-turn and access your driveway or street. We realize this could add a small amount of time to certain trips, but the expected increase in traffic volumes generated from developments in west Lenexa and beyond will make left-turn movements challenging, time consuming and dangerous. The roundabout U-turn will offer a safer — and at times quicker — alternative to left turns to and from 83rd Street.

One added benefit to the narrow median includes reducing impacts to properties on the north and south sides of 83rd Street. Traditional left-turn lanes and two-way left-turn lanes are wider than our proposed median and would mean the roadway would encroach a couple feet more in each direction.

The proposed roadway configuration, including roundabouts and a divided section, was evaluated and selected during the conceptual design phase to address the increase in crashes (rear ends and left turns from side streets) along the corridor. These elements were chosen to improve safety, traffic flow and long-term operational efficiency.

Roundabouts are inherently safer than traditional signalized intersections due to the reduction in what are called “conflict points” or opportunities for all types of crashes to occur. They also slow down vehicles and act as traffic-calming measures on corridors.

There is not a code requirement for residents to remove snow from public sidewalks or trails adjacent to their property. The City currently maintains the structural integrity of sidewalks and trails. Should the sidewalk or trail settle or crack, contact the City for repairs.

Sidewalk and trail improvements were well received by the Lenexa City Council when presented with the plan, and also by residents in attendance at the public meeting. Installation of sidewalks is typical with nearly all roadway improvements in the city, especially roadways near residential areas, to improve pedestrian connectivity. Construction of the multiuse trail follows the approved City of Lenexa Comprehensive Plan, which designates this corridor as part of the greater citywide trail network.

If you would like additional details regarding how your property will be impacted by the project, please contact the City’s project manager, Brandon McElhiney at bmcelhiney@lenexa.com or 913.477.7732 for more information.

Yes, any existing fencing that is removed or disturbed as part of the project will be replaced in kind at a location agreed upon between you and the City, likely at the end of the project. In addition, the City’s contractor will install construction fence along the project boundary to discourage anyone from entering the project limits. If you require temporary fencing to be installed along your property, please contact the City’s project manager to discuss.

If you have specific requests or concerns about the temporary removal of fence, please contact the City’s project manager.

Yes, the contractor will be responsible for restoring ground cover after construction is complete. For example, if you have a grass lawn, the disturbed ground on private property will be sodded.

One of the many benefits of roundabouts includes their inherent traffic-calming effect. We are aware of speeding issues along 83rd Street and expect those issues to be reduced as a result of the project. The 83rd Street corridor west of K-7 in Lenexa is 45 mph and we plan to maintain that speed limit for consistency, with reduced speeds at the roundabouts.