The Kansas Department of Transportation announced it would delay $273.5 million in projects during fiscal year 2017, and $279.2 million in projects during fiscal year 2018 in the wake of today’s state budget announcements.
The projects fall into the categories of modernization and expansion projects for roads and highways, a spokesman said.
Modernization includes work such as the addition of shoulders, passing lanes and remediation of hills and curves, according to KDOT. Expansion projects add capacity to the highway system.
None of the projects on the list released tonight was in Wyandotte County.
KDOT’s preservation projects will be let to contract as scheduled and will be funded at the $400 million per year level, according to the spokesman. Nor will these delays affect projects that are already underway, said Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike King.
The preservation program covers a range of work, including pavement and bridge repair, resurfacing and replacement.
“I also want to assure our city and county partners that there will be no change in the amount of revenue they receive from the Special City-County Highway Fund (SCCHF),” Secretary King said.
Annually, KDOT shares about a third, or almost $150 million, of the state fuels tax revenue with local governments through SCCHF. The project delays also won’t affect other KDOT programs that fund aviation, rail and public transit.