A $13.8 million federal grant for a diverging diamond interchange at I-70 and the Turner Diagonal in Kansas City, Kansas, has been awarded.
“Thanks to our people in Washington who have been pushing this, that is great news,” Mayor David Alvey said at the 5 p.m. Unified Government Commission meeting. “There will be $150 million in private investment at that location.”
He said he had received information from U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder about the approval of the grant. Rep. Yoder, R-3rd Dist., sent out a news release today about the federal grant.
“I’m thrilled the Department of Transportation has recognized the need for this project in Wyandotte County,” Rep. Yoder said in the news release. “The new interchange will open the door for major economic development in the area for years to come. I’ve been pushing for this grant for years, and personally discussed the need for the new interchange with Secretary Chao in the Third District this year. I want to applaud Mayor David Alvey for his steadfast leadership at the UG and thank the DOT for recognizing this critical need. This is a massive win for KCK, and will continue to build on the already amazing economic development we have seen over the last decade.”
Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao visited the 3rd District and met with Yoder about this project in October.
At tonight’s 5 p.m. UG Commission meeting, the UG’s legislative priorities were discussed. One priority was to advance this project at the state level, which Alvey noted now will not be so difficult.
Mike Taylor, the UG’s legislative affairs director, said the I-70 Turner Diagonal project is expected to result in economic development that would create 2,000 new jobs.
State Sen. Pat Pettey, D-6th Dist., who serves on the state Legislature’s transportation task force, said the task force’s first priority will be to finish the 21 projects that were not completed under the T-Works program, along with highway preservation. There is a continued conversation about economic development and partnerships, and that will be exhibited strongly with this project, she said.
To see a past story about Turner Diagonal developments, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/business-west-learns-about-development-along-turner-diagonal/.