Bids for the $600,000 project should be let in April, with construction beginning one or two months later.

Last Friday, a panel of three appraisers heard arguments about amounts the city should pay for use of land for the project.

The city has paid these amounts:

$2,000 each for two tracts owned by the Seymour family for right of way acquisition. The land is at the southwest and southeast corners of the intersection. In addition, the city has agreed to pay for a determination of descent because Helen Seymour, who owned the land, has died. The cost of that legal document has not been determined. These amounts were negotiated before the appraisers’ hearing last Friday.

$3,500 to Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. for acquisition of right of way. In addition, the city will grant an easement to the utility, which owns land on the east side of 24-40, south of the intersection.

$1,000 to Mary W. Mills for an easement for public utilities. The appraisers set the amount. According to Mike Crow, city attorney, an electric pole will be moved three feet west of its current location. At the appraisers’ request, Crow agreed to write a letter to Mills saying any damage to the property will be fixed. “We have the duty to restore the property the way it was,” Crow said.

$20,000 to Karen and Jerry Cahail, owners of the property leased by Casey’s, at the northwest corner of the intersection. This was negotiated by Crow and an attorney for Casey’s. A total of $5,000 was paid for acquiring a triangular-shaped piece of ground and $15,000 was paid because the business’ sign sits on that land.

$5,000 to Brumit Oil, which owns property where the Phillips 66 station operates at the northeast corner of the intersection. The payment was for acquisition of land and was negotiated before the appraisers’ hearing.

The appraisers, who were appointed by a Leavenworth County District Court judge, were paid $2,000 each for their work. The appraisers were John Evans Sr., Gary Gurss and Lloyd Banks.

Once the project is completed, all approaches to the intersection will feature additional lanes, as well as new traffic signals. Both approaches to the intersection on 24-40 also will include a left-turn lane, a through-traffic lane and a third lane designated for right turns and through traffic.

And both the Fourth Street approach and the K-16 approach will be rebuilt to include left-turn lanes and one lane to handle through traffic and right turns.

During construction, which is estimated to take nine to 12 months, traffic will be re-routed through the intersection.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will pay up to $600,000 of the construction costs, which are estimated at $608,575. According to city officials, the city will be responsible for any costs over the $600,000 cap. In addition, the city is responsible for paying for design work.