KDOT release
KDOT has announced that they are updating the K-18 and I-70 Interchange in Geary County. Several near-fatal crashes have raised concerns about the safety of the current interchange design. Heavy traffic during weekday peak hours and Kansas State University football games further magnifies these safety risks due to congestion.
KDOT said that they studied several options to improve the intersection from I-70 eastbound to K-18 northbound, and a flyover bridge design has been identified as the preferred option. The flyover bridge will span over the existing bridge across I-70. Additional improvements are planned for the southbound to westbound I-70 onramp. The project will also update the north access point of the interchange and add a two-mile auxiliary lane on I-70 (eastbound only). The existing interchange, including the bridge, will remain open both during and after construction
Construction will begin this year with completion scheduled in 2027. The cost of the project is estimated at $31 million.