Current Issues in Journalism

For people who are unfamiliar with Lawrence finding Sixth Street coming off the West Lawrence Turnpike Terminal can be confusing. If you are heading South on Iowa and you are looking for Sixth Street you wont find it. Instead you will see signs that read Highway 40 and Highway 59. This problem should be addressed because Sixth Street is one of the main streets in Lawrence and it should be pointed out so people kind find is easily.

Lawrence is a popular place to come visit because it has many things to offer. It is home to the University of Kansas. Located on the university is the Spencer Art Museum and the Natural History Museum. Along with that are KU athletics which brings in thousands of sports fans a year to come watch the Jayhawks or their opponents. Lawrence is also home to historic Massachusetts Street which offers people many different kinds of boutique shops along with an array of restaurants. One of the main roads to get to Mass. Street is Sixth, but people may be confused getting there if they come into Lawrence off the West Lawrence Turnpike Terminal.

Judy Carpenter who recently moved to Lawrence from California said that not having a sign that directed her to Sixth Street was confusing. "When you’re coming down McDonald, which turns into Iowa what you see is Highway 40 East and West and 59 south and then you see and overpass. You still don't know where Sixth Street is and you drive on. If you are lucky you might get stopped at the stop light on Ninth, but if you’re totally new to the area and you haven't been observant to a street called Second and Fourth then you have no idea where you are going and you get lost." Carpenter also said that it took her a long time to get used to how the Sixth and Iowa interchange worked.

David Woosley, the traffic engineer for Lawrence said that Iowa and McDonald is not a city street and KDOT should contacted about this problem. Kimberly Qualls, the public affairs manager for KDOT said it would take a while to figure out this problem because she wasn’t sure if this was a city or state problem. She did say that there are a limited amount of signs they can put up in the city. Along with that she gave information on how much it would cost to put a sign like this up,” There are lots of variables for a sign like this. For example if it’s a structural or guide sign. The signs cost about $10 to $12 a square foot and average signs are typically 2 feet by 15 feet long. "She said a sign for Sixth Street might cost around $300, but she once again stressed that there are lots of variables for signs. Woosley can be contacted at (785)-822-3034 and Qualls can be reached at (785)-296-3884.

A fix at the Sixth and Iowa interchange would benefit visitors, newcomers, and the city. Sixth and Iowa are some of the more popular streets in Lawrence. Sixth Street in particular can take you into the developing west part of Lawrence as well as lead you east towards the university and Mass. Street. Carpenter said this about adding a Sixth Street sign "It would quickly help a new comer get orientated to how this town is laid out.”

Judy Carpenter- 785-393-0377