Planning Commission finds 2027 capital plan fits city's long-range plan, passes along bridge concerns
The Salina Planning Commission voted 6-0 on Oct. 6 to adopt a resolution finding that the major projects in the city's proposed 2027 capital improvement program are consistent with the Salina Comprehensive Plan. Commissioners asked that a summary of their comments, including a debate over the East Magnolia Road bridge, go to the City Commission with the resolution.
State law requires planning commissions to review major transportation, utility and public facility projects for consistency with the comprehensive plan. The draft 2027-2031 program in the meeting packet lists $25.5 million in projects for 2027, including about $5 million in sales tax-funded street, trail and park work, $12.6 million in projects paid with property tax-backed bonds and $7.75 million in water, sanitation and landfill projects.
The largest single 2027 item in the draft is $8 million to replace the narrow East Magnolia bridge and improve the road, adding a hike-and-bike trail link between the soccer fields and Markley Road. Staff told commissioners the 2027 work on that project will be design rather than construction.
One commissioner questioned spending that much on a bridge that has not failed inspection and has not had an accident problem. Public Works Director Ron Marsh said the bridge is in fairly decent shape but narrow and outdated, and that the project came as a directive from the city manager's office and the City Commission. Staff said they believed the bridge scored about a 6 on the 10-point inspection scale and could have 10 to 15 years of useful life left.
Marsh said the current proposal is to build the new bridge on the north side so the old bridge can stay open during construction. He said the project would also widen Magnolia to Markley, add a 10-foot trail on the north side and add a pedestrian signal where the levee trail crosses Magnolia.
Commissioner Bill Longbine said he has advocated for the project because the old county bridge was not designed for today's traffic and has no safe pedestrian access. Another commissioner suggested pushing it back a year in favor of more urgent needs such as water projects. Marsh said the City Commission will hold a study session on the bridge design Monday, Nov. 9.
Staff also said the clean rubble and construction-demolition cell at the landfill is being moved from design to construction in 2027 based on this year's landfill numbers, and that engineers will present options for the Ohio Street and Schilling Road intersection at a City Commission study session Nov. 23.
