Roadway improvement projects approved in southeast Kansas

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has announced a few “Expansion and Modernization” highway projects in southeastern Kansas.

“These highway improvement projects will enhance accessibility and road safety to recruit new businesses and families to eastern Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Since day one, we’ve honored our commitment to ending the practice of using infrastructure dollars for projects they were never meant for – and instead use these dollars to directly fix our roads, bridges, and expand broadband access. Today’s announcement is further proof that our commitment to good stewardship of these funds is benefitting our communities, taxpayers, and businesses.”

These are the first IKE highway modernization and expansion projects KDOT is committing to construction. Previously, these projects were in the IKE development pipeline.

One project in the area will widen and add shoulders to a 22-mile section of K-7 in Crawford and Bourbon counties. Another will add a two-mile section of passing lanes on U.S. 400 just east of Cherokee.

“This week we are announcing projects totally 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 Kansans and working with communities, we can complete more projects and identify better ways to deliver them.”

The projects announced are currently scheduled to be let in 2023.