The K-18 overpass bridge over US Highway 77 in Junction City was imploded Friday (Jan. 20) night just after 8:00 pm.

The blast halted traffic flow for about 10 minutes in order to prepare for the implosion and then wait for the smoke to clear.

Crews worked overnight to clear the debris from the roadway.

The purpose of the US 77/K-18 Corridor Management Plan is toward long-term comprehensive land use, transportation, and access management strategy for US 77 and K-18.

The primary reasons, as assessed by KDOT, for the plan include:

• Development pressures associated with future population and employment resulting from Fort Riley growth.
•  Impacts of the Junction City Middle School located on K-18.
•  Increasing congestion along US 77 through Junction City.
• Safety concerns at a number of key intersections.

A video of the demolition on Friday can be seen on our Facebook page.

The K-18 overpass bridge over US Highway 77 in Junction City is set to be imploded tonight.

Fire Chief Terry Johnson said that will be something closely monitored by local fire officials.

“It’s unusual to bring explosives into a community…so we take it very seriously, and we’re trying to monitor the situation and we’re watching the progress of the preparations to make sure that we’re not going to have anything that’s going to put the community at risk,” said Johnson.

The blast is tentatively scheduled for 8:00 pm.

JC Post has confirmed with local Emergency Management and Fire Officials that we will be able to obtain photo and video from a distance of at least 1000 feet. If the video quality is workable, JC Post will live stream the blast on Facebook live.

During the period of the actual demolition, US Highway 77 will be closed for a period of about ten minutes. After that detours will be in place.

The detour for northbound traffic will taking the existing US-77 off ramp for K-18 and then turn east on 8th Street to Rucker Road and travel northwest on Rucker Road to US-77. The southbound traffic on US-77 will turn west on Rucker Road to Spring Valley Road, travel southbound on Spring Valley Rd. to K-18 and then turn east on K-18 to return to southbound on US-77.

Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has estimated that it will take the contractor between 12 and 24 hours to demolish the structure, remove it from the site and have US-77 reopened to normalized traffic.

A tentative date has been set for the blasting of the K-18 overpass bridge at US Highway 77 in Junction City.

Fire Chief Terry Johnson said that will be something closely monitored by local fire officials.

“It’s unusual to bring explosives into a community…so we take it very seriously, and we’re trying to monitor the situation and we’re watching the progress of the preparations to make sure that we’re not going to have anything that’s going to put the community at risk,” said Johnson.

Blasting materials will make their way into the area Friday evening, KDOT and the contracting company Hamm Construction have confirmed that the implosion will occur at 8:00 pm Friday.

“Between 5 and 7 [pm] is actually when [the explosives] will be here..there will be a ten minute window where they will shut down [US Highway] 77, and then they’re going to blast and then open up the detours and then start clearing out the debris,” said Johnson.

The detour for northbound traffic will taking the existing US-77 off ramp for K-18 and then turn east on 8th Street to Rucker Road and travel northwest on Rucker Road to US-77. The southbound traffic on US-77 will turn west on Rucker Road to Spring Valley Road, travel southbound on Spring Valley Rd. to K-18 and then turn east on K-18 to return to southbound on US-77.

Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has provided City officials with a 12 hour time frame to blast the bridge and clear the debris.

By Chad L. Simon
1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs

The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley will be represented on horseback by the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard during the 58th Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20. The CGMCG will ride 13 horses to the parade to include two draft horses that will lead the team’s 1871-era escort wagon.

The CGMCG was announced as one of the initial 40 groups participating in the parade Dec. 30 by The 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee., but the team has prepared for the parade by riding in the Chicago Memorial Day Parade and the Manhattan, Kansas, Veterans Day Parade in addition to its other community related events conducted throughout the year.

The horses departed Fort Riley via a private hauler while the 1st Inf. Div.
Soldiers flew to Washington and will continue to work with the horses upon
their arrival in the nation’s capital.

“When we get there we are going to keep on maintaining our equipment and
horses as we prep for the event,” said Spc. Sam Ruzga, a trooper with the
CGMCG.

The trip won’t be all work for the Soldiers. They will get the opportunity
to tour the National Mall and museums. The Soldiers will also get to tour
the Pentagon and the offices of Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts, both of
whom represent Kansas.

The team spent hours of specialized training on Fort Riley in addition to
its usual community involvement before departing for the inauguration.

“We have done a lot of the training leading up to this to get the horses
accustomed to being in formation, being comfortable with flags and loud
noises and unique objects they will encounter on the parade route,” said
Capt. Riley Emter, CGMCG commander. “The desensitization training we have
done is key for us getting them ready for a parade on such a large stage.”

The specialized training is used to desensitize the horses to the specific
parade environment in Washington. The CGMCG also enlisted the help of the
Fort Riley’s 97th Military Police Battalion and fire department to simulate
the parade. The police cars turned on their lights and sirens as the fire
department sounded their horns during practice.

“We will also practice with loud speakers to simulate loud crowds and
music,” Staff Sgt. Kory Owen, CGMCG trooper, said. “We do demonstrations
throughout the community so all of our horses are desensitized to loud
gunfire. That helps us when it comes to loud noises and crowds, but there is
never too much training.”

The prestige of the event is not lost on the team members as they continue
to prepare to represent the “Big Red One” in Washington.

“It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” Ruzga said. “I am very proud to get
the opportunity to do it and get to ride with the Commanding General’s
Mounted Color Guard. It will be a really cool experience and something
nobody on this team will forget.”

This is not the first inaugural parade for the CGMCG. Since the team’s
inception in 1992, it has participated in three prior inauguration parades
including President Barack Obama’s first Inaugural Parade in 2009.

The CGMCG comprises active-duty U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st. Inf.
Div. at Fort Riley on a temporary basis, so none of the current members were
on the team during Obama’s first parade. However, five of the 13 horses have
made the trip to Washington.

The first of two Junction City High School Way Forward Town Hall meetings was held on January 17th.

The meeting was an opportunity for members of the Steering Committee to share what they’ve learned about a possible new high school project as well as address the needs of students in the District.

Questions were also taken from the public and addressed individually by District officials.

In case you missed it you can view the entire meeting below. The next Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 28th.

Tuesday night’s Way Forward Town Hall meeting will include information on the need for a new high school, different options for building of a facility, including the costs and how the facility could be financed through a combination of federal heavily impacted military aid and state aid funds.

The public will be able to pose questions about this project.

This will also be broadcast on 1420 KJCK, The Talk of JC. Tune in at 5:30 pm or watch live on JC Post. (below)

The JCHS Way Forward Steering Committee is hosting the town hall meetings in order to inform the public and receive input on the project.

 

 

 

“Each of us has a role in making a difference in the world.”

That was a comment by Dr. Cheryl Grice of Kansas State University  during her remarks at the Martin Luther King Jr. ceremony in Junction City.

Grice stated we shouldn’t wait for someone else to take care of it. “It is past time for us to take a seat at the table, become a part of the conversation at the table. We must be engaged, we must contribute and make a difference. It is imperative that there be inclusion among us.”

Grice added now is the time for a village or community to heed the call to action. “The benefits of projecting a positive force in our community will have an impact on this community and generations to come. In the true spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King we must continue his work. We must engage, have hope, keep hope alive, aim high, and continue to move forward. And remember, we are stronger together.”

The ceremony at the C. L. Hoover Opera House also included remarks by Eva Freeman, the recipient of a Coretta Scott King Humanitarian Award, Pev Stevens…the son of Ruby Stevens who started the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Junction City,  and celebration organizers Ronald Atkinson, Daphne Maxwell and Larry Hicks. There were musical performances by the Geary County Children’s Choir and the 1st Infantry Division Band, and a photo montage of local Quilts of Valor recipients. Those recipients are former soldiers who presented with a quilt for healing and to recognize their service in World War II, Korea or Vietnam.