Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced that six expansion and modernization freeway projects in south-central Kansas – totaling more than $ 129 million in investments – have been committed to construction under of the Kelly administration’s bipartisan transport plan.

“These six freeway improvement projects will improve accessibility and road safety to recruit new businesses and families in south-central Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “From day one, we have honored our commitment to end the practice of using infrastructure dollars for projects they were never intended for – and using those dollars to directly repair our roads, bridges and expand broadband access. Today’s announcement is further proof that our commitment to the good stewardship of these funds benefits our communities, taxpayers and businesses.

These are the first IKE motorway modernization and extension projects that KDOT is undertaking to build. Previously, these projects were in the IKE development pipeline.

The largest project announced today is I-235 North Junction in Wichita which will reduce congestion, upgrade 19 bridges in the area and replace the tight loop ramp from K-96 to I-135 with a flyover. Other improvements include rehabilitating and adding shoulders to portions of the US 160 in Sumner County and the K-42 in Sumner and Sedgwick Counties and the extension of existing passing lanes on portions of US 50 in Harvey County as well as part of US 50 in Harvey and Marion counties.

“This week, we are announcing projects totaling nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars as part of the Kelly Administration’s transportation plan,” said KDOT secretary Julie Lorenz. “This significant investment in the state’s transportation infrastructure proves that by listening to the Kansans and working with communities, we can do more projects and identify better ways to do them.”

The projects announced today in Wichita are currently scheduled to be leased in 2023, with the exception of the North Junction project, which will be leased in 2022.

As promised, a phase of all T-WORKS projects will be leased to construction prior to the start of construction of the IKE projects. KDOT will be holding local consultation meetings this fall to identify additional regional priorities to add to the development pipeline and continue to work on projects put into development in May 2020.

The photos below from today’s event are available to media:

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