Holmes Road Reconstruction Project in Martin City moves forward

By Kathy Feist

The long-awaited improvements for Holmes Road in Martin City have moved forward after months of public engagement and redesigns. 

On Thursday, the City Council overwhelmingly approved the condemnation of and financial compensation for private land along Holmes Road. Tracts of private land along the street will be purchased and used for the expansion of the road, sidewalks, wall easements and temporary construction easements. 

The City has so far acquired 22 tracts between Blue Ridge Boulevard and 135th Street; however, seven tracts of land remain unnegotiated. 

According to City Engineer Nicolas Bosonetto, the Public Works department plans to begin the bidding process in about a month for the $50 million project.

“It’s standard for us to file a condemnation order that allows us to start the legal process,” said Bosonetto. “For those who don’t want to negotiate, then they also have time to go through the legal process.”

Construction is expected to begin this spring and will include widening the road from two to three lanes, installing new curbs and guttering, street lighting, a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side of Holmes and a 10-foot multi-use trail on the west side.

Coincidentally, on Thursday morning at the Martin City Community Improvement District meeting held at Rosehill Winery, CID Manager Vickie Wolverton proudly held in her hands the final design for the Holmes Road Project. She said landscaping amenities include 45 flower poles that will line the street, similar to those found on 135th Street, electrical hook ups, and water connections which will help with the maintenance of 45 flower pots. (The flowers along 135th Street receive water from a truck tank provided by Rosehill Gardens.) 

Pavers and pockets of natural grass and plantings will also match similar landscaping in Martin City. 

Wolverton said project planners were “80% sure” that Martin City would become a railroad quiet zone in the near future. A quiet zone restricts trains from sounding their horns while passing through the designated area. If approved, Wolverton said there was a possibility that Cherry Street would be blocked from traffic due to the location of new crossing gates. 

Sixth District City Councilman Johnathan Duncan praised the work of Bosonetto and the City Public Works Department when the ordinance appeared before the Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee meeting on Monday. “The work with the railroad to get a Quiet Zone established is huge for the surrounding residents and businesses,” he said. “I often see folks walking on that busy road all the time and this is going to be an incredible improvement for pedestrians’ safety and walkability.”

“We hear that south Kansas Citians sometimes feel that they don’t get the same level of attention, love, from the city, but this is an incredible infrastructure project in deep south KC,” he said. 

The reconstruction of Holmes Road was first proposed in 2018 and would have included an extension to 137th Street.  After five years with little action on the project, it was reintroduced to the city budget in 2024.

Bosonetto said $10 million in GO Bond funding was budgeted for Holmes Rd. reconstruction.