TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Topeka City Council approved $26 million on Sept. 1 for Huntoon construction stretching from Gage to Harrison.
Just on the other side of Gage, construction is already taking place.
Several businesses have been slower, and with new construction starting next year, they worry they’ll still feel it.
“I feel like Topeka right now, the orange cone is our mascot, and this is just something we’ve like, embraced for the last few years,” Justin Glasgow, Performance Tire and Auto owner, said.
Just days after Performance Tire and Auto opened its doors, construction began.
“Not the best way to open up a new business, a new location in Topeka, but, you know, there’s some positive things,” Glasgow said. “A new road means progress, right?”
Businesses said they thought the project would be done by now.
“I think I was told five weeks in the beginning and it’s been a few more than that, so hopefully we’re closer than we are not,” Michael McBride, Kingpin Enterprises COO, said.
“So, you know, I think media outlets, when we opened up, said this was a five-week project and then, you know, next thing we hear it’s an eight-week project,” Glasgow said.
The city said in a statement to WIBW the project’s timeline was never five weeks and always had a substantial completion date of Oct. 9th. The city’s full statement can be found below.
It hasn’t impacted the number of people coming into Gage Bowl, but they say it has affected other day-to-day operations.
“It’s definitely been a bummer trying to get in and out. This area being closed over here at one point, had to snake all the way around,” McBride said. “Had a little bit of trouble with our food deliveries getting in and out.”
With part of the intersection closed, people are finding other ways across.
“I was more worried about safety, to be honest with you. We get a lot of traffic through our lot of people flying through here,” McBride said. “They put up some extra barriers and stuff for us.”
More construction beginning in Spring 2027 isn’t their favorite thing to hear; businesses still look forward to the end product.
“Grand scheme of things, this is better for our community. Good roads makes a good place to live, so you gotta take the good with the bad,” Glasgow said.
The city said the project is on schedule and aims to be fully completed by Nov. 6th.
The city’s full statement can be read below:
The City of Topeka’s SW Huntoon Street pavement repair project between McAlister Avenue and Gage Boulevard remains on schedule, with a signed agreement with the contractor for a substantial completion date of October 9. Substantial completion is the milestone at which the road is expected to reopen to unrestricted traffic. Final completion is scheduled for November 6, which allows time for the contractor to complete any remaining punch-list items.
There was one change made during construction. After the top layer of pavement was milled, crews determined that the underlying pavement was in poor condition and was not adequate to safely maintain eastbound through traffic while exposed. The City made the decision to close eastbound through traffic rather than risk damage to the infrastructure or surrounding property. Additional pavement work was required as a result, but that work will not affect the October 9 substantial completion date.
There was previously a September 28 completion date listed on a public presentation for this project. That date was the result of an error when the project dates were initially calculated and does not reflect the current contractual schedule. The correct substantial completion date is October 9, and the project remains on schedule to meet that date.
The City appreciates the patience of residents and businesses in the area during construction and is grateful for the feedback from local businesses regarding the responsiveness and helpfulness of City staff throughout the project.
The current Huntoon Street pavement repair project is separate from the larger Huntoon Street project planned for 2027. The larger project is currently scheduled to begin construction in spring 2027, and this current project’s October 9 substantial-completion date is not expected to interfere with that schedule.
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