WELDA — Since the Kansas Department of Transportation started a project replacing a bridge on U.S. 169 over the Prairie Spirit Trail near Welda, a more than-20-mile detour using U.S. 59 through Moran has been posted for through traffic. That detour appears to be through. Many drivers have ignored the detour and used a one-mile stretch of gravel road through Welda to bypass the bridge project. Anderson County Sheriff Scot Brownrigg told the Anderson County Review that the amount of traffic on the gravel road has skyrocketed. Anderson County road superintendent Lester Welsh said because of the traffic and heavy rains, county crews have had to make repairs to the road every week since U.S. 169 was closed more than three weeks ago. However, Welsh says he would rather see drivers use that road rather than other gravel roads in the area. Construction on the new bridge will take another month and a half, depending on the weather.
Thursday, July 15, 7 a.m.
