A project that has taken more than a decade and cost $300 million is drawing to a close.
The renovation of the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka should be mostly finished next month, and, a state panel heard one of the final updates on the project Tuesday.
STD The project is in the home stretch, but the Statehouse grounds are very much still an active construction site. There's scaffolding on the building, fences block off large sections and construction equipment rumbles around the property.
Statehouse Architect Barry Greis says they're aiming for most of the work to be done by December 31, but there still could be unplanned delays. For example, they built 15 days into the schedule for when there were high winds or heavy snows and work had to stop.
"We've exhausted all those. So from here on, if we get a weather day due to snow or high winds, there is the risk that we may not finish. So we're still planning on the December 31 date, but you have to be aware of those weather days," says Greis.
A new visitor's center in the basement of the Statehouse is slated to open January 2. Gov. Sam Brownback's office is working on a dedication celebration for Kansas Day in late January.
