Police crack down on Topeka drivers cutting through parking lot to avoid work zone

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Topeka drivers trying to avoid road work at a major intersection in the city may be in for a surprise from local law enforcement this week.

27 News reached out to the City of Topeka regarding the ongoing road work project that started on Monday, Sept. 9 at the intersection of Southwest Topeka Boulevard and Southwest 21st Street. Work crews will have the intersection closed for around six months as they replace a waterline and reconstruct the pavement.

City spokeswoman Rosie Nichols told 27 News some drivers who are trying to avoid the road work have been spotted cutting through the parking lots of a business in the area. Motorists thinking this short cut will pay off have another thing coming however.

"On September 9, 2024, the Topeka Police Department received reports of drivers cutting through the Harley Davidson parking lot at SW 21^st and Topeka Blvd. due to the ongoing construction and intersection closure," Nichols said. "In response, officers provided additional traffic enforcement in the area today."

Nichols could not provide any numbers regarding how many tickets have been issued so far regarding this situation as they are still being processed. She said Standard Traffic Ordinance (STO) Section 118 makes it unlawful to drive through private property when trying to avoid traffic control devices.

“Driving Through or On Private Property to Avoid Traffic Control Devices. No person shall drive through the property of a gasoline service station or the service entrance of any public or private property adjacent to any street intersection to avoid any official traffic control device or short cut from one street to another.”

Standard Traffic Ordinance (STO) Section 118

Violators of the traffic ordinance are looking at a $76 fine in court costs for a moving traffic violation along with a $70 fine for not following the STO. Fines may vary based on the specifics involved with each driver's case.

Drivers are encouraged to follow posted detour routes to avoid the road work at Southwest 21st Street and Southwest Topeka Boulevard. These include:

• NB Topeka Blvd. – from 29^th St. and Topeka Blvd., east on 29^th St. to Kansas Ave., then north to 12^th St., then west to Topeka Blvd.
• SB Topeka Blvd. – from Huntoon St. and Topeka Blvd., east on Huntoon St./12^th St. to Kansas Ave., then south to 29^th St., then west to Topeka Blvd.
• EB 21^st St. – from 21^st St. and Washburn Ave., south on Washburn Ave. to 29^th St., then east to Kansas Ave., then north to 21^st St.
• WB 21^st St. – from 21^st St. and Kansas Ave., south on Kansas Ave. to 29^th St., then west to Burlingame Rd., then north to 21^st St.

This is a familiar issue encountered by law enforcement and city officials. In June, drivers trying to avoid work at Southwest 29th Street and Southwest Topeka Boulevard began cutting through nearby parking lots, causing problems for employees of nearby businesses. A similar situation was reported in early August at a north Topeka gas station as highway traffic sped through its parking lot.

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