By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
A portion of the century-old stormwater tunnel running through the center of Hays will be relined beginning this fall.
"For a 100-year-old structure, it's still in pretty decent shape," John Braun, project manager, said at Thursday evening's city commission meeting.
The tunnel is inspected annually by city staff. "However, due to its location and the nature of its function, the city cannot risk allowing it to deteriorate."
Starting at 19th and Lincoln and going south to Montgomery Ditch at the Union Pacific railroad, the tunnel winds its way under the downtown area. It follows the old creek bed that was filled in during the 1920s when the tunnel was constructed, and the town subsequently built over the top of it, according to Braun.
Lincoln Draw Tunnel is constructed of glazed red clay tile mortared together into a circular tunnel approximately 72 inches in diameter and one mile in length.
In many places along the way, homes and businesses are constructed over the tunnel. Several smaller storm sewer collection systems connect to the tunnel and a few inlet structures dump directly into it.
In 2009, the city spent $600,000 on repairs to the tunnel, including lining about 1,500 linear feet with an epoxy solution, which Braun said has held up well.
The 2021 Capital Improvement Plan includes $750,000 to line an additional 2,000 feet of the tunnel and remove two obstructions caused by city water mains that penetrate the tunnel.
Braun said the water mains will be moved under the tunnel instead of going through it.
"Removing them should improve the hydraulic-carrying capacity of the tunnel," Braun said, "plus, I keep bumping my head on them every time I go in to inspect," he laughed.
The low bid from of $869,365 from Utility Maintenance Contractors, Wichita, is more than budgeted.
Braun attributed the higher than budgeted bid to increased labor and materials costs because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Since there is adequate funding in the Stormwater Reserve Fund for the bid, staff recommends awarding the full amount of the bid," Braun said.
Commissioners agreed and unanimously approved the bid.
In other business, the commission approved a cereal malt beverage license for the Downtown Hays Development Corp. for Brews on the Bricks on Aug. 27.