“When combined with the first two rounds of IKE Construction projects, these investments are part of a $2 billion commitment to make our roads safer, reduce congestion, create good jobs, and deliver more economic opportunities,” Kelly said. “Getting these projects to construction will make getting around Kansas safer and easier and will allow the historic economic growth we’ve seen to benefit the entire state.”
Since the passage of the IKE program in 2020, the Kelly administration has advanced to construction more than $2 billion for highway modernization and expansion projects.
In addition to revealing the latest round of IKE Construction Pipeline projects, Kelly and Reed also announce the final phase of two projects remaining from the T-WORKS program will go to construction in 2026. The two safety improvement projects on K-383 in Norton and Phillips Counties will officially complete the T-WORKS transportation program.
“[This] announcement represents significant investments in the state’s transportation infrastructure,” Reed said. “Leveraging partnerships is a guiding principle of the IKE program. When we listen to citizens and work with communities, we are more assured these investments will provide long-lasting benefits for Kansans.”
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The announcement took place in Olathe, where improvements to the I-35/Santa Fe Drive interchange were among the selected projects. The project will address capacity issues on I-35 and reconfigure the interchange at 135th Street, making driving through the area much safer. The project is estimated to result in a 42% reduction in fatal and injury crashes and a 22% reduction in property damage crashes. The City of Olathe has committed funding to help pay for the project.
Kelly highlighted the balance of urban and rural projects included in the pipeline announcements. Construction projects were also announced in Dickinson, Douglas, Finney, Gray, Rice, and Thomas counties. Below is a list of the statewide Construction Pipeline projects as announced.
- I-35 in Johnson County: Old US-56 to 119th Street (Phase 1) - $122 million
- US-40/K-10 in Douglas County: I-70 south to US-40 (6th Street) - $91 million
- K-15/K-18 in Dickinson County: from west junction (Zion) to east junction (Quality Oil) - $4 million
- K-25 in Thomas County: from County Road I, north to four-lane transition south of I-70 - $23 million
- US-56 in Rice County: Lyons to McPherson County line - $15 million
- US-50 in Finney County from Aerodrome Road southeast of Garden City Airport, east to Finney/Gray County Line - $44 million
- US-50 in Gray County at the Finney/Gray County line east to 7 Road - $53 million
- K-383 in Norton County: over Prairie Dog Creek (Bridge #062) (east of Almena) northeast to the Norton/Phillips County line - $19 million
- K-383 in Phillips County from the Norton/Phillips County line northeast to Prairie Dog Creek (Bridge #051) - $31 million
