What the Public Works Department Does
The quality of life for those who live, work, and play in Topeka depends on the quality of the city’s infrastructure: smooth streets, well-engineered projects, well-managed downtown parking, and well-maintained city assets all lead to a better way of life.
The City of Topeka’s Public Works Department, nationally recognized through accreditation by the American Public Works Association, strives to meet our current and future needs. A well-run organization consisting of Engineering, Streets, Maintenance, Traffic Signs and Signals, Forestry, Parking, Fleet, and GIS Management ensures public funds are spent on projects and services approved by you through your local City Council representative.
2023 Highlighted Street Reconstruction and Repair Projects
Major Street Projects
Construction Schedule: 2023 - I-470 Bridge to SW Fairlawn Rd.; 2024 - Fairlawn Rd. to SW Gage Blvd.; 2025 - Gage to SW MacVicar Ave.
Budget: $14.6 million
Funding: County Half Cent Sales Tax
Contractor: TBD
Project Website
Construction Schedule: Begin late spring or early summer
Budget: $1.85 million – Street only
Funding: G.O. Bonds and Citywide Half Cent Sales Tax
Contractor: TBD
Project Website: https://tylerstreetproject.com/
Project Presentation
Reconstruction Projects – $500,000 or less
Construction Schedule: TBD
Budget: $500,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: Summer or fall 2023
Budget: $200,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: Summer 2023
Budget: $117,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: Spring/Summer 2023
Budget: $495,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Pavement Repair Projects
Construction Schedule: Summer 2023
Budget: TBD
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: Spring or summer 2023
Budget: $75,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: Spring or summer 2023
Budget: $25,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: TBD
Budget: $280,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: TBD
Budget: $130,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: TBD
Budget: $110,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: Spring 2023
Budget: $60,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Mill and Overlay Projects
Construction Schedule: Fall 2023
Budget: $780,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: Fall 2023
Budget: $780,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Construction Schedule: Spring 2023
Budget: $530,000
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Status of 2022 Projects to be Completed in 2023
Major Street Projects
The new roadway will include one traffic lane, one auxiliary lane for on-street parking, deliveries and bus pullouts, and a shared use paths, on-street bike facilities, and a 5' sidewalk. This project also includes improvements to the water, wastewater and storm water conveyance systems.
Revised Construction Schedule: July 2023
Successful Bid Amount: $15.5 million (2021-22)
Funding: County Half Cent Sales Tax, Federal Fund Exchange (FFE), Utility Revenue Bonds.
Contractor: Bettis Asphalt, Inc.
Project Website: https://www.12thstreetproject.org/
Construction Schedule: SE 41st St. to SE 45th St. will reopen to traffic sometime in the spring after the asphalt plants open and work is completed.
Successful Bid Amount: $4.4 million
Funding: County Half Cent Sales Tax
Contractor: Schmidtlein Excavating Inc.
Project Presentation
Project Handout
Project Postcard
Construction Schedule:2023 spring and summer
Funding: City Half Cent Sales Tax
Contractor: Bettis Asphalt
Construction Schedule: 2022-23 winter – Waterline replacement; spring 2023 – Signal, bulbouts and mill & overlay work.
Funding: G.O. Bonds, City Half Cent Sales Tax, and Utility Fund Contractor: Emcon Inc.
Neighborhood Projects
Construction Schedule: Fall 2022 through spring 2023
Contractor: Bettis Asphalt
Project Contacts During construction: Colton Miller, Bettis – (785) 817-2809 or Chris Willard, City of Topeka – (785) 220-5928.
Project Scope of Work and Schedule
- Remove and replace deteriorated locations of
- Curb & gutter
- Inlet tops
- Sidewalks
- Full depth pavement patching and crack repair
- Mill and overlay of asphalt pavement
- Other closures as communicated by contractor
- Sidewalk repairs will be spot panel replacements.
- Some ADA ramps will be replaced.
- Sprinkler heads affected by curb or sidewalk demolition in the right of way: Contractor shall cut, crimp, and deliver the sprinkler heads to the home owner. It will be the home owner’s responsibility to reinstall them.
- Cul-de-sac roads shall have access points constructed “half-at-a-time” to maintain access in and out of the cul-de-sac. Single lane two-way traffic will require homeowner etiquette.
- Mill & Overlay will require complete closure by block. Contractor shall communicate closure days with the homeowners.
Contractor – Bettis Asphalt, Inc.
- Colton Miller – (785) 817-2809
City of Topeka Construction Inspection
- Chris Willard – (785) 220-5928
Consultant Project Manager – Bartlett & West Engineering
- Jeff Lolley, P.E. – (785) 272-2252
- Bryan Blizzard, P.E. – (913) 577-8206
- Lee Holmes, P.E. – (785) 368-3842
Remaining Construction Schedule: Spring 2023

Mill & Overlay, Street/Curb/Sidewalk Repair Project
Neighborhood Streets bounded by SW 21st Street to SW 29th Street, SW Urish Road to SW Kingsrow Road
Note: The contractor will place door hangers at your address 3 days prior to beginning work on the street/curb/sidewalk adjacent to your property.
For a quick response during construction: City Project Chris Willard, (785)220-5928.
For project design information: Brad Johnson, Project Engineer, (785)408-9413.
Budget: $1.4 million
Contact the Public Works Department
If you want to connect with us – whether reporting a problem or simply asking a question – visit SeeClickFix online, or call us at 785-368-3801.