Railer Express Overpass to open Saturday

A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Main and Third Streets intersection as part of a dedication ceremony for the Railer Express Overpass in Herington. The site is at the east approach to the structure which spans the Union pacific Railroad tracks and Lime Creek on a diagonal route from Main Street to Walnut Street. Although the overpass will be open to the public following the program, the $3.5 million project is expected to be fully complete in July. The majority of funding has been provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation. The City of Herington and the Union Pacific Railroad also have contributed monies to the project. This elevated view is looking north from a few hundred feet south of the Walnut and Fifth Streets intersection.
      Herington will mark a major milestone in the cities history Saturday when the Railer Express Overpass is opened to the public, creating a link for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrian which will be open, 7 days a week.
      A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Main and Third Streets intersection, which is at the east approach to the 1,839-foot overpass.
      The structure will feature a 593 foot clear span above the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and Lime Creek.
      Cathy Hagerman and Kelly Staatz both of Herington will cut the ribbon. They were the winners in a “Name the Overpass” contest sponsored last August by the City Commission. A banner will be in place above the street. Speakers will include City Manager Ron Strickland: Mayor Fred Olsen: Doug King, president of the King Construction Company, the project’s general contractor: a Kansas Department of Transportation representative: and a Union Pacific Railroad representative. Invitations to attend have been extended to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, 35^th District State Senator Jay Emler of Lindsborg and 68^th District State Representative Tom Moxley of Council Grove. The Rev. Shawn Baird, pastor at the First Christian Church in Herington, will bless the overpass. A plaque honoring the late Lance C. Lancaster will be unveiled. He was 12 years old in 1978 when he dies Jan 2. 1977, from medical complications suffered in association with an asthma attack. His arrival at the hospital had been delayed due to a train blocking the Walnut Street Crossing. Laura Wendlandt of Manhattan and Larry Lancaster of Rapid City S.D., the boy’s parents are slated to be the first persons to cross the Railer Express Overpass. They granted permission for their late son’s name to be included on the overpass plaque. Mrs. Wendlandt and Lancaster will be followed by a color guard from the Dix-Day Post No. 1281 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The color guard also will include members of the VFW’s Ladies Auxiliary, Carey R. McClaren Post No. 12 of the American Legion in Herington and the Veterans Motorcycle Club in Herington. Herington High School band members under the direction of Kenny Roe will follow the color guard. Members of the HHS Class of 1982 will cross the overpass, following the band. Had he survived, the Lance Lancaster would have been a 1982 graduate.
      Improved public safety service response time to the area of Herington west of the railroad tracks is said to be one of the benefits of the overpass. In accordance with this, a Herington –based ambulance will be the first vehicle to officially cross the overpass. A Herington Fire Department pumper truck will be followed by a Herington Police Department patrol car. Buses carrying persons who are unable to walk the length of the overpass will follow the emergency service vehicles. Persons on foot will then be allowed to cross. When a second H.P.D. patrol car travels across the overpass, the structure will officially be opened.
      A shoo-fly whish has been in place for several months will be closed. A free meal will then be served in the shoo-fly area.
      The Walnut Street crossing at the Union Pacific Railroad tracks will be permanently close since traffic will flow across the overpass, 40 feet above the rails.
      The west approach to the overpass remains to be completed. In the meantime, westbound traffic will be routed north on Seventh Street, west on Main Street and south on Eighth Street to Walnut Street. Eastbound traffic will follow the route in reverse order. It is expected the west approach will be complete sometime in July. Pedestrians will have access to a four-foot wide sidewalk along the north side of the overpass. Nearly 80,000 cubic yards of dirt was hauled from a pasture site, 1 mile south of Herington, to construct the approaches to the overpass.
      Although discussed for many years, it wasn’t until Sept. 17, 2002, that four maps were presented to the public during a meeting at the Community Building. Four options for the location of an overpass were shown. Ultimately, the city commission chose the Main Street to Walnut Street route, which affected the fewest number of residences and business and which provided the second least expensive construction option.
      Acquisition of 20 real estate parcels for the project cost $1.18 million. However, 87 percent of the funding is being provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation via a 1999 Comprehensive Transportation Program grant. The remaining monies are being divided on a nearly equal basis by the City of Herington, and the Union Pacific Railroad. Construction began in July, 2007.

Above Information Provided by the Herington Times.