The Little Arkansas River level will be lowered beginning Dec. 5 to accommodate reconstruction of the Minisa bridge on 13th Street immediately west of North High School. The river level will remain down for the duration of the project, scheduled for completion by early October 2008.
Much of the reconstruction work has to be done from the riverbed itself, and lowering the water level will expedite that work. It will also help to keep the temporary pedestrian crossing that will be built across the river, north of the bridge, accessible as much as possible.
“We’re going to do everything we can to keep this project moving forward” says Gary Janzen, Chief Design Engineer for the City of Wichita.
The project will provide wider driving lanes and a new support structure, while preserving the historic elements of the 75-year old bridge, including the Carthalite images of Native Americans and buffaloes. The work will require the closure of the 13th Street Bridge from January15, 2008 to early August 2008, weather dependant. The bridge and 13th Street will be open to one lane of traffic in each direction during the final phase of the project, August to October 2008.
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