MANHATTAN, Kan. — Recent intersection repairs in a Manhattan neighborhood have sparked mixed reactions from residents, with some voicing frustration over disruptions while others welcomed the improvements.
Shilling Construction recently completed work at the intersection of Ninth and Thurston, a project that caught some neighbors by surprise.
Kody Helms, a Kansas State senior studying marketing and professional strategic selling, said the construction impacted parking and mobility in the area.
“It was a little inconvenient for parking space because our back parking lot is usually full, so to have to move them [vehicles] around from not being in the front anymore was kinda frustrating,” Helms said.
Helms also argued that the city should focus its road repair efforts on “high traffic highways” rather than neighborhood intersections. “By doing that, the city will prevent inconvenience for others in the future,” he added.
Not all residents shared his concerns. Reece Keller, a public health master’s student who also lives nearby, felt the upgrades were necessary and worthwhile.
“I think they are all city streets and they all need to be well kept, and it [the intersection] definitely needed attention,” Keller said. “I have noticed there are other roads that also need attention, but I am grateful that they did the construction.”
Keller also said the lack of notice about the project wasn’t a major issue for him. “Truthfully, I could just go around the block,” he explained.
The City of Manhattan posted on Facebook about the completed work, sharing before-and-after photos of the repaired intersection. The post drew comments from community members debating whether the city is prioritizing projects appropriately.
City officials acknowledged that additional neighborhood projects are planned. Upcoming work includes construction at Fifth and Fremont, Sixth and Fremont, and along Fifth Street from Fort Riley Boulevard to Yuma Street.
The differing reactions underscore the challenge city planners face in balancing infrastructure needs across both high-traffic corridors and residential areas. While some residents want to see resources concentrated on major thoroughfares, others emphasize that neighborhood roads also deserve timely maintenance to ensure safety and quality of life.
Originally reported by Diana Piedra, Staff Writer in The Kansas State Collegian.
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