A section of Derby’s busiest road will be reconstructed after the City Council unanimously approved an $8.2 million contract for Rock Road.

The council unanimously approved the project’s financing and agreed to KDOT’s selection of Pearson Construction, according to city council records.

The work will add new pavement, turn lanes, curbs and gutters, sidewalks and traffic signals, according to the Derby Informer. The project upgrades Rock Road to an urban standard as residential development pushes north along the corridor, with the Skyridge Addition and Greenwood Village housing developments progressing nearby.

Federal money covers most of the tab. The Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, or WAMPO, awarded Derby federal funding for 80% of construction and engineering costs. Derby pays its matching share and costs ineligible for federal assistance.

Bond payments will be partially offset by contributions from adjacent developments, with the remainder paid using Derby Difference Sales Tax funds, according to the council agenda. The Derby Difference is a 1% local sales tax in effect from 2025 through 2034. The city's May 2026 newsletter noted about 30% of the sales tax revenue comes from visitors who shop in Derby.

City Manager Kiel Mangus told the council the winning bid came in under budget. "The bid was good, it's actually less than what we had projected in our budget for the Derby Difference Sales tax," Mangus said, according to the Wichita Eagle. He said the savings would free up Derby Difference funds for street maintenance across the community.

Pearson Construction submitted the lowest of at least five bids after the Kansas Department of Transportation publicly bid the project Sept. 16. KDOT administered the bidding because the project includes federal funding.

City engineer Alex Lane said Derby did not have a firm date for construction to begin but expected work to start in the spring, the Eagle reported. Council member Wayne Molt Jr. asked about timing given other construction projects on Rock Road and nearby Woodlawn, the Derby Informer reported.

Derby police data shows between 35% and 41% of all vehicle crashes in the city occurred on Rock Road each year from 2021 through 2024, according to a Rock Road corridor study presented to the council.

Derby's share of the project cost is due to KDOT by Nov. 5.