Sixth Street in Baldwin City can be considered the road not taken for 60 days due to construction starting next week.

The road will be closed to finish up construction that began last fall.

“It’s a little inconvenient, but when it’s done it will be a better road,” City Administrator Jeff Dingman said.

Dingman said construction costs are being divided between the city and the county.

Orange Street, which currently is being worked on, will be the detour road while Sixth Street is closed.

Dingman said the main tasks left to do include building the intersection back together and putting sidewalks in. The road also will get another layer of asphalt and the appropriate line markings.

Senior Trevor Racine said he hears the sounds of road construction in the early morning.

“My window faces Sixth Street, and I hear big trucks rolling through at six in the morning,” Racine said. “They go throughout the day, but the morning is when I notice the most.”

Racine rides his bicycle on the road and out of town, so the construction caused him to make adjustments last fall.

“For a long time I’ve had to ride around it,” Racine said.

Racine added that although Sixth Street was reopened, the overall quality was not as good as before construction, but he hopes once the new wave of work is complete the road will be upgraded.

“It’s not as nice as it used to be,” Racine said. “Maybe it will be good once they get the new stuff in.”

Kaitlin Emig, coordinator for service-learning and volunteering, who also rides her bicycle in the area, said the construction last fall was not a hindrance.

“It did not cause me any hassle,” Emig said. “I’m on my bike to enjoy the outdoors, so going the extra half-mile around didn’t bother me.”

Emig said taking detours while bicycle riding allowed her to view other parts of Baldwin City and learn about it’s past, including a historical graveyard.

"I'm looking forward to it being done so I can take a different route on my bike," Emig said.<br/>Racine said he understands the purpose of the construction.Racine said he understands the purpose of the construction.
Racine said he understands the purpose of the construction.

"It shows that Baldwin is growing, and sewage and lines are two of the basic amenities that you need to have for a growing population," Racine said.<br/>