Category: Traffic

Survey to begin Monday on bridge over Kansas River on 18th Street

KDOT map of project.

Beginning April 26, the Kansas Department of Transportation will begin a field survey at and around the bridge over the Kansas River-BNSF Railroad on U.S. 69 (18th Street Expressway) located 2 miles north of the U.S. 69 and I-35 junction.

This field survey effort is to gather information necessary for the detailed design of the proposed improvement and is estimated to be completed by July 1, a KDOT spokesman stated.

A member of the survey crew first will contact property owners or tenants for permission to enter private property, the spokesman stated. Survey activities will include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the survey corridor.

Travis Biddinger, survey project manager, Trekk, will be in charge of this survey for KDOT.

KDOT urged all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. To stay aware of all road construction projects across Kansas, go to www.kandrive.org or call 5-1-1.

KDOT to provide U.S. 69 expansion project updates at virtual public meeting tonight

The Kansas Department of Transportation, along with the Kansas Turnpike Authority and the city of Overland Park, will hold a virtual public meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, to update the public on the U.S. 69 expansion project.

Initiated last fall, the project is studying how best to reduce congestion along U.S. 69 between 103rd and 179th streets, according to officials. This project is in Johnson County.

At the virtual public meeting, project team members will discuss the alternatives considered so far including improving transit, increasing technology and using other strategies.

They also will explain why adding capacity – either non-tolled, general-purpose lanes or express toll lanes – best meet the project’s purpose and need based on the study team’s analysis. After the presentation, attendees may submit comments and questions.

To join the live virtual meeting, members of the public may visit the project website, www.69express.org, and follow links at the time of the event.

In addition to the virtual public meeting, a virtual open house will be available on www.69express.org from April 16 to 30.

A link on the home page – www.69express.org/public-information-meetings/ – will direct people to the virtual open house, where they can view project materials. Participants also can ask questions and provide comments through an online form that goes directly to the project team. The open house will provide the same information covered in the live public meeting.

Results from a survey and focus groups conducted in early 2021, as well as a comparison of the impacts of the tolled and non-tolled alternatives and next steps in the project schedule, will be available.

Anyone who requires special assistance or accommodations to attend the meeting or open house, would like printed copies of the meeting materials or needs more information, contact Kelsey Heavin at (816) 527-2468 or [email protected].

The U.S. 69 corridor is the busiest four-lane highway in Kansas, with heavy congestion during rush hours and at other times. Previous studies indicate that U.S. 69 congestion will increase significantly in the future as Overland Park grows to the south, with peak travel times projected to triple by 2040.

Project updates by clicking the News link on the website home page, following the project’s Facebook and Twitter pages and subscribing to the Project’s electronic newsletter. The Feedback section of the website also provides a link to a comment form.