OK, this may seem like a silly thing to wonder about, but can anyone tell me what the highway crew plans to do with the old roadway now that the Hwy 99 improvements are done? Are they planning to add another two lanes so it becomes a divided highway?
BTW, they really did a great job on the new road, didn't they? When did they begin that project?
A divided highway sounds good, doesn't it? But, alas, Elk County is far too insignificant for such glory. The usual procedure for abandoned roadways is for the property to revert to the original owners as the state usually holds only an easement for the use of the property as a roadway. Janet can tell you much more about this as she bugged the state about bettering the highway until they got tired of her and gave in. There were far too many accidents because of the narrowness of the road and the non-existent shoulders. Not to mention the hills and curves where it was impossible to pass safely.
Yes, it is a great road now. I like being able to go through People's Hill instead of over it.
FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD AND SEEN THEY PLAN TO USE THE OLD ASPHALT AS FILLER FOR DITCHES OR SELL IT TO OTHER PEOPLE TO USE IT FOR WHAT EVER THEY WANT TO USE IT FOR (EX. DIRT ROADS. TO FILL HOLES...ETC)
AND ON THE NEW ROAD, IT IS THE SMOTHEST ROAD IN THE COUNTY, EXCEPT IN SPOTS THE ROAD LOOKS LIKE BLACK ICE :o
A mountain of the old asphalt is in the county road yard across the street from my house.
The old highway has been chopped up already. They are slowly moving the chopped up asphalt away. I'm not sure how much they are leaving for those folks who have to get to their houses. No four lane for us. However; I am so pleased with the new highway. It is such a joy to drive up and down it five times a week to work.
:police: with the hi-way being new and with a shoulder do you think they will up the speed limit to at least 60 mph instead of the usual 55?
I think it is reasonable to expect it to be raised. Other highways, some less safe than this portion of 99 have a higher speed limit.
I am not sure how much input a county has to state speed limits.
However, the old K-99 pavement in Elk County had a 55 mph limit. When one gets to K-99 in Greenwood County, the speed limit increases to 60 mph even though there is no improvment in the road.
US 160 in Elk County is 55 mph but when one gets to Cowley County it is 60 or 65 without an improvement. When one gets to Montgomery County, it is 65 mph. One could argue the Montgomery portion is a better road though.
Willl be interesting to see what happens.
I vaguely remember reading somewhere that once the highway is finished, the speed limit will be raised. Although it's almost done, it is not finished yet and is still a work zone!!!!
I have rumors to the fact that the speed limit will remain at 55 on the new stretch of highway due to the shoulders/drop-off places. I, for one, would like to see it raised a little, but am enjoying the drive everyday so much more than I have for the last 25 years. You can see so much farther and it feels like there is much more room. And it does chop off a little bit of time. It's hard to believe we ever drove on that old road that has been torn away. It's a wonder there weren't more accidents than there were.........
Is there a chance that someone could post a couple of pictures of the improvements. I was still there when the project was started and would love to get an idea of what it looks like now. I know that drive to Indy every morning and evening would have been much better had the road been done. Sounds like you guys are really enjoying your "new" highway.
Greetings Jenssarlou! Indy and I stopped on the highway headed north (back toward Wichita) yesterday afternoon and took a couple of snaps of the road for you. They're taken pretty close to the "Big Hill" in hopes you could see the relative flatness of the new road as opposed to upsey downsey rolling old.
Did you know that on a clear day, half an hour to and hour after sunrise, from a point about half a mile south of the Cresco Cemetery, you can see the wind towers at Beaumont? I can also see them if I am in my car, in my carport and the trees are bare at this time of the morning. That doesn't sound right. I think it should be, I can also see them at this time of the morning if I am in my car in my carport and the trees are bare.
The wind towers are easy to see unless it is raining or cloudy or night. The red lights on the top aren't that visible from the ground.
Jensarlou, What do you think of the new highway? The "Big Hill" is what People's Hill used to be and when it would ice and/or snow, cars and trucks could not get up that hill. The highway is super terrific.
They did take a pretty good chunk out of People's Hill. It's so nice to just go straight through it. It's amazing what they can do.
Terrell and I have seen the wind turbines from 99... it's pretty cool.
I can't imagine trying to drive up that steep old hill in the winter. The new roadway is great!
Out of curiosity, since Terrell and I are coming into the game toward the end, how long ago did the road project start?
I believe they started on the bridges about 2 summers ago. I believe it could have been started in early 2005.
They were fortunate that the weather was mostly dry and mild so work wasn't delayed. It is nice going through People's Hill instead of over it and it is nice not to have to sneak around the S curve so as not to be surprised by oncoming cars. I will probably miss being so close to the trees around the curve. Some of them were really pretty in the fall and you could get a really close up look at them. Almost too close.
I believe that CrumCowgirlMama is right. The bridges took forever. I do think that once the road actually got started it went really fast. Of course, they are not done. I talked with a man who works for Sherwood, who did the base road, and he said as long as the weather holds, they will be working. They have alot of work to do still.
It is hard to believe it is hgwy 99. It is so flat it almost looks like 400. They did a wonderful job. Wish I had the chance to drive on it. Might have to make a trip back to Howard. :)
Come on back for a visit, jensarlou. If you need a place to bunk, I have an extra bed for a few nights. However; we would have to send the kids to their dad's. Don't have room for them, too.
We have driving from Topeka for 30 years and the highway is wonderful. To bad they waited so long to fix it.
Army Mom
I have some information on the new Highway 99 project. In August 2005, Koss Construction Co. of Topeka began clearing land for a new strip of Highway 99, beginning 1.3 miles north of the Elk/Greenwood county line, and concluding 1/4 mile north of Howard. The reason this particular 12-mile strip of Hwy. 99 was chosen and approved for replacement was because of the high rate of fatality accidents that had occurred over the past several years.
The total cost of the project was expected to be approximately $11.8 million and the estimated completion date was initially set for December 2007. Since the weather has cooperated, the project is ahead of schedule, but because fuel expenses have risen dramatically, the total cost of the project has jumped to $12.1 million. Though the new strip of highway was fully opened to traffic in November 2006, the whole project will not be completed until the spring of 2007.
A Koss employee told me the speed limit on the new stretch of highway will raise (probably to 60 mph) as soon as the cement barricades along the east side of the highway are removed. (There are two rows of these barricades – south of Peebles hill, and south of the S-curve).
For the project, Peebles hill (not Peoples hill) was cut down sixty feet, after which it was built back up four feet for the new highway.
Well, I sure learned something. I always thought it was People's Hill. It is called Peebles Hill. Wow.
I always wondered why it was called People's Hill. Now I wonder why is it called Peeble's Hill.