Have you driven through Martin City lately? Not only do we have a brand-new street light, we’ve made incredible progress on the 135th Street public improvement project! The second phase of the 135th Street improvement project was just completed in October, and according to the Martin City CID’s Executive Director, the project is expected to impact the entire community.
For years, it’s been a challenge for people to access businesses along 135th Street in Martin City and as a result of these improvements, people are experiencing Martin City in a manner they may not have before.
The public and city leaders were invited out on October 24th to mark the end of Phase II with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Wilson said it was a great opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to the project.
“We have worked hard to raise public awareness about what’s happening here and how important Martin City is to Kansas City’s overall growth,” said Wilson. “Phase two was critical because it helped to continue to connect Martin City to the rest of Kansas City.”
Phase two provided a major face-lift to 135th Street from Oak Street to Wornall Road. A new street lane has been added along with new on-street parking spaces, brand new sidewalks, a 12” waterline has been replaced, street lighting upgrades, a new storm sewer, new curbs and gutters, new pavement and a new traffic signal at Wornall. Whew!
The city of Kansas City, MO funded the $2.7 million construction price tag through capital improvement dollars, while Jackson County helped fund design work. To date, the Martin City CID has funded $600,000 for expenses, including design costs, right-of-way acquisition, and the installation of brick pavers, hanging basket poles, and other aesthetic enhancements.
135th Street has already seen significant upgrades with the completion of the project’s first phase in late 2014. Phase I improved 135th Street from Holmes Street to Oak Street, including a lane addition, on-street parking, drainage improvements, new curbs and sidewalks and a new traffic signal at Holmes Road.
While there isn’t an exact start date for Phase III, Wilson said the plan is to continue work along 135th Street to 150 Highway. Future plans include similar improvements along Holmes Road.
“We have prime real estate that needs development but we can’t do that without additional infrastructure improvements,” said Wilson. “Our goal is to continue educating the public about all the opportunities Martin City has for growth, and how Kansas City, MO would benefit from these improvements.”
The 135th Street project has been an ongoing team effort and we want to thank everyone who has been involved for their work in moving it forward. Stay tuned for updates as the project enters the next phase!