Kansas

[Sani]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/53299510473

This lane drop before an exit with two lanes defaulting to an exit in the same interchange is inconsistent.

Notice that the two far right lanes default into the exit, but the 3rd lane ends right before the 2nd ramp of the same interchange.

Why not have the ending lane continue onto I-435 West like the other two lanes do for I-435 East?

This is at the Johnson County Gateway.  It's been a long time since I looked at the planning documentation in any detail, but I suspect the lane that ends just past the gore point is intended to be prolonged in a future phase.

I think that picture is on US 69 NB in Overland Park just north of the College Blvd interchange. I believe they will be fixing that as part of the 69Express project.

https://69express.ksdot.gov/renderings/
https://69express.ksdot.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-14_US69-DB-Project-Exhibit-Public-Meeting-1.pdf

They'll kinda fix it, but the original plans for 69Express called for a flyover ramp from NB 69 to WB 435. See the Preferred Alternative Conceptual Alignment from early 2022.

[splashflash]

$126 million project announced to widen US-75 highway to four lanes north of Holton

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/126-million-project-announced-to-widen-us-75-highway-to-four-lanes-north-of-holton/ar-BB1jySHG

The $126 million project will widen US-75 to a four-lane expressway from Holton north to its intersection with K-20 highway, which connects with US-75 after running east from Horton past the Kickapoo Golden Eagle Casino

[roadman65]

https://www.facebook.com/100064343545602/posts/pfbid02seeUWrhZnv2Tt18ojBbhhCJqoURdwsJfBdkpzRu77ijDRKadFZKkWcomBH5SxRbRl/?

Old K-14 to be closed this week for culvert repairs near Sterling.

[roadman65]

Has KDOT completed the new US 166/400 freeway in Cherokee County from K-26 to the split of US 166 and US 400 east of Baxter Springs?

[roadman65]

I-70 WB in Kansas City. I take the name of both former US Presidents has to do with I-70 serving both hometowns of these men?

[jnewkirk77]

I-70 WB in Kansas City. I take the name of both former US Presidents has to do with I-70 serving both hometowns of these men?

Yes.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/99vBoXuJr1KuDiyZ8
Why did KDOT replace the interchange here as seen in 2018 with a DDI?

The original set up looked real good as it had no stoplights, no ramp weaves, and Turner Diagonal was completely free flowing.

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe the former configuration was considered outdated, and they reconstructed the interchange to "modernize" it. I think it would only be considered a mistake if the new configuration greatly increased congestion in the vicinity of the interchange.

[Alex]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/99vBoXuJr1KuDiyZ8
Why did KDOT replace the interchange here as seen in 2018 with a DDI?

The original set up looked real good as it had no stoplights, no ramp weaves, and Turner Diagonal was completely free flowing.

The project was part of a process to open 300 acres for private development.

The parclo A2 interchange at Riverview Avenue was also replaced with an at-grade intersection to accommodate the construction of an Amazon fullfillment center.

[roadman65]

Freeway being downgraded here like many other places. Figures.

Development or social class issues seem to be killing freeways. Then again the Turner Diagonal no longer is US 40 so, many city officials see it as a wasted freeway anyway.  FL 681 fell prey to this near Venice, FL. A freeway turned arterial to accommodate developments along its path.

Makes sense.

[Scott5114]

Yeah, Wyandotte County fucked up the Turner Diagonal real good. If it wasn't enough to ruin a freeway, they also put hideous signs on it.

[Sani]

KDOT posted the Public Information Open House for the K-10 Corridor Capacity Improvements Project. The plan will be to add a third lane on K-10, improve several interchanges, and potentially add a new interchange at Lone Elm Road. Some interesting takeaways:

• A study of a potential new interchange at Clare Road just west of K-7 determined it would cause an "unacceptable increase in traffic" on nearby roads in Olathe. I know this proposal was very unpopular with residents to the south of K-10 in Cedar Creek and along West Valley Parkway.
• At Lone Elm Road, the potential improvements include an overpass, a full modified diamond interchange, a modified diamond interchange that only allows access to the north, and a modified diamond with north access only but a sidewalk connection to the south.
• At Lexington Avenue in DeSoto, they're looking at either realigning Lexington to the west and constructing a DDI that would connect to 91st Street with a roundabout or building a SPUI where the current folded diamond is. The realignment and DDI would allow reactivation of the railroad spur south of Commerce Drive to the Panasonic battery plant and Astra Enterprise Park, which advertises potential future rail connectivity as part of its appeal.
• The Evening Star Road interchange would either become a DDI with a realigned 103rd Street to the south or a partial free-flow interchange with direct connections to and from eastbound K-10 from 103rd Street. Construction of a new roundabout at Evening Star and 103rd and on the south leg of the existing interchange is already underway ahead of the opening of the Panasonic plant and nearby logistics facilities.

Interestingly, the Preliminary Implementation Plan shows what appears to be the replacement of the two cloverleaf ramps on the west side of the K-10/K-7 interchange with flyovers to and from K-10, but they did not provide any additional details on what those improvements will look like. It appears to also include completion of the unfunded phase of the Johnson County Gateway project, although the flyover from northbound I-35 to westbound I-435 and the improvements to I-435 north of K-10 are listed as "long term" projects. No proposed schedule is provided.

[Alex]

KDOT posted the Public Information Open House for the K-10 Corridor Capacity Improvements Project. The plan will be to add a third lane on K-10, improve several interchanges, and potentially add a new interchange at Lone Elm Road. Some interesting takeaways:

This is purely fictional, but with the convoluted alignment that U.S. 40 takes using the western half of the Lawrence Trafficway alongside K-10 before turning north on US 59 back to its old alignment, would any consideration be given to simply realign U.S. 40 to overtake all of K-10 east to I-35/435? From there it could just be a hidden or loosely marked overlap to I-70 in Missouri.

If U.S. 40 took this alignment, it would also give it an independent route of U.S. 59 and U.S. 24 into Kansas City.

[The Ghostbuster]

Was that portion of US 40 rerouted onto K-10 because the city wanted that portion of old 40 to be a local street? I would agree that the realignment to K-10 is a convoluted route. It should have either stayed on its existing alignment, or gone north on K-10, east on Interstate 70/Kansas Turnpike, and either left the turnpike at Exit 202 or Exit 204 (I would have preferred the latter). I am aware that US Highways usually aren't routed on toll roads, but I think my idea would make more sense than routing US 40 along its current alignment.

[mrsman]

Was that portion of US 40 rerouted onto K-10 because the city wanted that portion of old 40 to be a local street? I would agree that the realignment to K-10 is a convoluted route. It should have either stayed on its existing alignment, or gone north on K-10, east on Interstate 70/Kansas Turnpike, and either left the turnpike at Exit 202 or Exit 204 (I would have preferred the latter). I am aware that US Highways usually aren't routed on toll roads, but I think my idea would make more sense than routing US 40 along its current alignment.

I agree with all of the above.  There should be serious consideration to allowing "touring routes" for US highways, even if there is a local interest in a street.  There is no good reason to re-route all the traffic away from 6th street.

[roadman65]

Part of K-2 to be closed in Barber County for a year.
https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/District-Five/PDF_Files/PressReleases2024/2BarberBridgeRelease.pdf

The detour planned will be 28 miles long where only a four mile segment of the route will be closed.

[J N Winkler]

Part of K-2 to be closed in Barber County for a year.

https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/District-Five/PDF_Files/PressReleases2024/2BarberBridgeRelease.pdf

The detour planned will be 28 miles long where only a four mile segment of the route will be closed.

This is normal.  KDOT generally designates detours only along roadways of a standard equivalent to the closed section, so the added mileage can be quite significant, especially in western Kansas.

About seven years ago I was driving from St. Louis to Wichita, as part of the final leg of a Toronto/Adirondacks roadtrip, when I encountered construction on US 400 at the railroad crossing just east of Cherokee (K-7 intersection).  IIRC, the posted detour ran along US 160, K-126, and K-7, and more than doubled the travel distance from US 400/US 160/K-171 south of Pittsburg to US 400/K-7 from 7.7 miles to 16.3 miles.  Having driven close to 300 miles at that point, I was not interested in following it, so I dodged the project on local streets in Cherokee, some of which were gravel.

[edwaleni]

https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/i-70-closure-planned-for-topeka-this-weekend/

Heads Up.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/CKFf4BxcHnef6TtD6
I see the left turn ramp guide on all Kansas freeways that have overlaps to only feature one of the two ( or more) routes. I'm guessing the primary route only gets a mention and on the K-14/96 concurrency KDOT considers K-14 as the primary route despite in Nickerson K-96 was the original route as K-14 didn't enter here due to it being aligned elsewhere.

[J N Winkler]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/CKFf4BxcHnef6TtD6

I see the left turn ramp guide on all Kansas freeways that have overlaps to only feature one of the two (or more) routes. I'm guessing the primary route only gets a mention and on the K-14/96 concurrency KDOT considers K-14 as the primary route despite in Nickerson K-96 was the original route as K-14 didn't enter here due to it being aligned elsewhere.

I don't think the omission of overlapping routes on these ramp advance guide signs necessarily indicates lesser importance, since KDOT practice is not all that consistent.  For example, on US 54-400 out of Wichita:

*  US 54 West, Kingman (K-14 and US 400 omitted)

*  US 54 and US 400 West, Pratt (both routes signed)

[roadman65]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/53357356612
Of course interstates will only have the interstates on the left guide like here near Salina.

[Sani]

Merriam OKs agreement to study options to remake Shawnee Mission Pkwy, I-35 interchange

The city of Merriam is looking to improve safety at a key Interstate 35 interchange.

Last week, the Merriam City Council voted 7-0 to approve a nearly $600,000 contract with an engineering and design firm to explore ways to improve safety at the I-35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway interchange. The city is paying for the study out of its capital improvement and tax increment financing funds.

This is the beginning of more than a year-long study that involves a traffic and safety analysis, public engagement and a final concept development for an important corridor in Merriam.

I live not too far away, and this interchange can be difficult to navigate for drivers on Shawnee Mission Parkway and on I-35. The SM Pkwy interchange is directly between the exits for Johnson Drive and 67th Street, so you have three exits within a mile, and there's a lot of weaving as a result. The left exit for I-635 a couple miles north doesn't help matters.

I emailed KDOT a while back suggesting that this interchange would be a good candidate for a DDI.

[Sani]

KDOT finally got an updated website!

https://www.ksdot.gov/

It's still ksdot.gov instead of kdot.gov, but at least it doesn't look like they built it in GeoCities anymore. Unfortunately, a lot of the old project pages are gone now.

[Stephane Dumas]

KDOT finally got an updated website!

https://www.ksdot.gov/

It's still ksdot.gov instead of kdot.gov, but at least it doesn't look like they built it in GeoCities anymore. Unfortunately, a lot of the old project pages are gone now.

    Still the old school Geocities look might have some rare advantages. Maybe the Wayback Machine might have archived some old project pages. Here an archived copy from April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230401053202/https://ksdot.gov/

Or further back in time, when it was http://www.ksdot.org  https://web.archive.org/web/20000915080247/http://www.ksdot.org/