WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The City of Bel Aire said it plans to file a lawsuit against three companies for “professional negligence and breach of contract” in the Woodlawn Project’s pavement failure between 37th and 45th Street North.
The city said the lawsuit will be filed in Sedgwick County District Court on Wednesday. It seeks recovery of damages to redesign and reconstruct the road, which the Kansas Department of Transportation estimates will cost from $3 million to $8 million.
“Our role as a city council is to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Bel Aire Mayor Jim
Benage said in a news release. “We also want to be good partners with those companies who are using federal grant money to build local infrastructure. Our hope was to fix the problem collaboratively with all three companies. It is unfortunate for everyone that we are now in litigation, but the city must protect taxpayers. We need to get that for which we contracted: a safe, lasting roadway.
Bel Aire says it spent more than a year in discussions with all interested parties but could
not reach a satisfactory option.
“We don’t take lightly our decision to file suit,” he continued. “The city has completed
multiple, successful projects with each of these companies, and we have great respect for their
professional expertise. But it is our responsibility to hold all our vendors accountable for their
work.”
While the lawsuit works its way through the court system, the city said it has contracted with Professional Engineering Consultants to develop design options for a new roadway and underground drainage system. KDOT will assist the city with financing in the short term while it awaits a settlement or judgment from the lawsuit.
