By Anthony Gorges
JC Post/Little Apple Post
KDOT officials, along with local, state, and federal leaders, broke ground on Wednesday morning in Geary County on the K-18 and I-70 Interchange Project.
The groundbreaking ceremony featured remarks from Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Secretary Calvin Reed, Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. Scott Proffitt, Geary County Commission Chairman Keith Ascher, and Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran.
"We are here today to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for the new interchange that will transform our connection from I-70 to K-18," Secretary Reed said. He also thanked all the local, state, and federal leaders for their efforts in securing funding for this project and others across the state.
According to KDOT, the benefits of this flyover bridge project include reducing congestion, allowing drivers to maintain a safe and consistent speed, accommodating future traffic projections, and accommodating freight. KDOT also says that this project will accommodate K-State gameday traffic without backing up into the through lane on I-70, provide improved driving conditions at the K-18/Boller Road intersection, and lower the number of lane closures during construction.
"This is super near and dear to my heart," Geary County Commission Chairman Keith Ascher said. Commissioner Ascher noted that he grew up right along the gravel road and has seen the transition of I-70 and K-18 over the years. "There is more traffic today than we can ever remember," Ascher said. "These improvements are very important not just to this region but also to the state. For our local and regional impact, though, this interchange matters to the people who live and work here every day." Ascher stated that this will lead to shorter commutes, less congestion, and less frustration for travelers and farmers. "Geary County is proud to be a part of this and is ready to see it through." Along with the other speakers, Commissioner Ascher thanked KDOT and all the local, state, and federal leaders who made this project possible.
One person whom each speaker thanked individually was Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, who was in attendance and spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony. Senator Moran pointed out the confusion that many drivers face with the current interchange and explained why this new interchange project was necessary. The senator noted that he has been a longtime supporter of efforts to improve K-18 from the west.
"There is probably not an interchange that I go through more than this one," Senator Jerry Moran said. "You're always cautious because you never know if the person in front of you, who is not supposed to stop, will stop, or if the person to the left of you, who is supposed to stop, will stop. This interchange is just so different, and it's just got to be a safety issue," Moran stated.
The Kansas Department of Transportation made it clear that Senator Moran was an influential player in securing some funding for this project. "We work with KDOT to try and make sure they have the necessary dollars to do projects that they are interested in doing and that we think have significant merit," Senator Moran said. "This project was one of them, and so there is $5 million of federal money to help put the money in place for the State of Kansas to do this project."
The overall cost of the project is $27.5 million, and King Construction of Hesston is the primary contractor. The length of the project, which includes a flyover bridge, is approximately two miles and is estimated to be completed in the fall of 2027.