51st Street Improvements

Project Overview

The City of Roeland Park is planning improvements to the roadway and infrastructure along 51st Street from Cedar west to Nall Avenue. This project will focus on reconstructing the street to improve safety, drainage, pedestrian access, and long-term durability. It will also have an eight-foot multipurpose trail on the south side of 51st Street.

Links to relevant council agendas and meeting minutes are posted below for residents to review project background and decision points.

Why this project is happening
This reconstruction effort is part of the City’s broader efforts to maintain and upgrade aging street infrastructure, address safety concerns, and improve connectivity for pedestrians and vehicles throughout the community.

Public Outreach and Engagement

The City is working closely with residents, engineers, and property owners on the design and implementation of this project and have made outreach efforts as described below.

Neighborhood Meeting
A neighborhood meeting was hosted on January 26th at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. During this meeting, staff and the project engineers reviewed project plans with residents, answered questions, and listened to community input.

Mailed Notices
Letters announcing the meeting and project information were mailed to affected residents on January 16th, 2026. These included details about the meeting, project overview, and next steps.

Temporary Construction Easements

Temporary construction easements (TCEs) are required to complete portions of the project that extend beyond the right-of-way. These easements allow the contractor to temporarily work on private property for grading, sidewalk reconstruction, or other construction activities.

The City has engaged Orrick Law Group to manage and facilitate the easement acquisition process. Representatives from Orrick Law Group attended the January 26th neighborhood meeting to discuss how easements will be acquired and to answer legal questions. Many property owners may be approached about easement needs as design details are finalized.

Design and Engineering

The City’s engineering team is finalizing design documents that will guide construction. Once available, these documents will be posted on this page for reference and download.

Council Workshops and Design Review
Several City Council workshops included discussion of design elements for 51st Street. These meetings provided opportunities for the Council to review design plans, hear from engineers, and ask questions about design alternatives and project impacts. Documents and minutes from these discussions are linked below for transparency and resident review.

Council Workshop and Minutes (Background Links)

Below are links to meeting materials where the 51st Street project was discussed by the Governing Body (Council Workshop). Attachments include presentations and background information.

• December 1st Council Workshop – 51st Street Review of Design Plans (staff report and design attachments)

• December 1st Council Workshop Minutes

• August 18th Council Workshop – Complete Streets Analysis and Design Discussion

• August 18th Council Workshop Minutes

Project Timeline

This schedule reflects anticipated milestones as design and public outreach continue:

• Design phase and plan refinement – Ongoing

• Neighborhood meeting – January 26th, 2026

• Final design and permitting – Early/Mid 2026 (expected)

• Easement acquisition process – 2026

• Anticipated construction start – Spring 2026 (pending final design and easement acquisition)

• Anticipated construction completion - Late Fall with sod installation

More precise dates will be added as design progresses and contracts are awarded.

What Residents Can Expect

During construction residents can expect:

• Temporary changes in driveway access and parking on 51st Street

• Construction noise and equipment staging adjacent to property

• Coordination from staff and engineers to minimize disruption

• Periods where temporary drive approaches are installed for access where needed

The City will provide updates on traffic impacts, detours, and phased work area as construction approaches.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Why are easements needed for this project?
Temporary construction easements are needed to allow space for construction activities that extend beyond the current public right-of-way. These may be for grading, sidewalk installation, utility work, or other improvements that temporarily affect private property. Legal team representatives are assisting with this process.

Will I be contacted about an easement?
Yes. Property owners affected by easement needs will be contacted directly by city staff or Orrick Law Group representatives to discuss the terms and answer questions.

Why do you need easements for this project?
The easements will help residents by reducing the driveway slope and providing a longer section of new driveway for those along the project.

Will I have access to my property during construction?
Yes. Access to driveways will be prohibited while concrete cures but residents will be able to park on the street overnight during that time.

How is the City paying for this?
Funding for this project is estimated at $1.5 million from the Special Street Fund (1/2 cent dedicated sales tax for road improvements), $922,000 grant from Johnson County CARS and $8,000 from the City of Mission. There is no special assessment for this project.

Are any mature trees being removed for this project? 
No

Where can I see the design plans?
As soon as the finalized engineering plans are available they will be posted on this page. Links to council agenda attachments provide initial design information. The design being considered by Council reduces the need to obtain a larger easement keeping the infrastructure closer to the roadway. It also avoids the need to relocate existing storm inlets and overhead power, lowering the project cost.

Why are you installing an 8 foot multipurpose trail on the south side of 51st Street?
The City's Bike-Ped Plan indicates having bike lanes on 51st Street  as this already connects to completed bike corridors on Nall and 51st Terrace and Roe Lane. The current width of 51st Street is not wide enough to accommodate two 5' bike lanes and two 10' vehicle lanes. The 8' multipurpose trail being added to the south side provides a bikeway along this corridor as anticipated. It also addresses the City goal of having sidewalks on both sides of the streets in Roeland Park. 

Contact Information

For questions or to request more information:
City of Roeland Park Public Works Department
Phone: 913-722-5435
Address: City Hall, 4600 W. 51st Street, Roeland Park, KS 6620