With work about to start on rebuilding a seven-mile stretch of U.S. 169 south of Iola, a piece of local development will be delayed.
Bill Michaud, seeking to build a Sleep Inn and Suites franchise on the east edge of Iola, said his plans are being deferred slightly because of the road work.
So much of our business relies on traffic from the highway, Michaud, a resident of Fort Scott, told the Register. We dont want to open until we have the best possible opportunity for success.
While Allen County motorists will find local detours, such as along Old 169 or other county roads, long-distance drivers the ones hotels covet will likely avoid 169 altogether, and follow U.S. 75 to the west or U.S. 69 to the east as they travel between Kansas City and Tulsa.
The plan, Michaud said, is to time construction so the new hotel will open early in 2020, or about when the 169 project is finished.
We think Iola is still a great market for us, he said, and still has a need for a new establishment.
The rebuild in Allen County, from Minnesota Road (the airport turnoff) to Tank Farm Road just south of Humboldt, is expected to take about 18 months.
The timing (of the road work) has put plans on hold, but they have not gone away, Michaud said.
He anticipates groundbreaking for the hotel to occur in late winter or early spring 2019.
Michaud said he was nearly at 100 percent in his efforts to secure investors for the estimated $4.5 million project.
Last summer, Allen County commissioners agreed to provide up to $167,500 in the form of a loan to assist Michaud in the purchase of a parcel of land at the intersection of U.S. 54 and U.S. 169.
Still, Michaud has not yet settled on a site for the 55-room hotel, which also will feature an events center.
We are still considering a number of sites, he said.
Michaud also owns the Sleep Inn and Suites franchise in Fort Scott.
Crews were placing detour and road closed signs along the highway in anticipation of the road work beginning this week.
