Decision on Future of Kennerly Road

The Sunset Hills Public Works Committee voted 4-0 on Tuesday to enter into negotiations with Cochran Engineering for the $1.2 million Kennerly Road rehabilitation project.

The federal government is paying approximately $977,201, with the city contributing $244,000. It’s about an 80/20 split.

Kennerly Road will be widened from 24 feet to 26 feet. The extra 2 feet in width will likely be added to one side or the other along the length, rather than adding it evenly to both sides. Grading, right-of-ways, and existing structures will determine which side will get the extra width.

The extra 2 feet is for added safety. Rumble strips will be added to the sides and possibly the centerline to help drivers stay on their own side.

Oates, EFK Moen and Cochran, in that order gave presentations to the committee before the vote. The order was decided by pulling the names from a hat.

The committee liked Cochran’s experience in rural areas, such as in Jefferson County and Franklin County in which they had to work with the Missouri Department of Transportation. MoDOT is involved in the design process of the 1.4 miles Kennerly Road project, which is a first for Sunset Hills.

The closest to home project Cochran has done was the Old Gravois Road improvement.

Cochran will have to deal with new MSD requirements for water run-off.

Vice president of Cochran, Dave Christensen, said bioswales (depressions where water can gradually seep into the ground), pervious sidewalks, which allow water to soak through, and hydrodynamic separators, which remove water pollutants from flowing water are all suggested by MSD.

All three firms addressed the Hausfel Court intersection, where Kennerly Road makes a bend, and some grading would need to be done for safety and construction concerns. Hausfel will be re-aligned to make it a safer intersection.

A small rise in Kennerly at Oakcrest Estates Court limits sight, and Christensen suggested some vertical grading could improve safety there.

Anne Lamitola, Sunset Hills director of public works, said in the meeting that the city inherited the road in 1996 in an annexation, and that the road hasn’t been improved since then.

The approximate schedule is to design the road in 2012 and build it in 2013. MoDOT requires one public hearing, but there may be more.

The committe also voted to add a total of 310 feet of sidewalk to Eddie and Park Road near Wembly Woods, on the south side, and Doercrest, on the north, at a cost of close to $8,000.