Interstate 235 encircles the city of Wichita to the west. The 16.52 mile long loop originates from a three-wye interchange with I-135/U.S. 81 at the South Area of Wichita. The commuter freeway arcs northwest by the Southwest Wichita and Southwest Village neighborhoods to K-42. Continuing north, I-235 converges with U.S. 54/400 (Kellogg Avenue) at a cloverstack interchange to the northeast of Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT).
Paralleling the Big Ditch, I-235 heads north by the Orchard Breeze and Orchard Park neighborhoods to Zoo Boulevard across from the Sedgewick County Zoo. Further north, I-235 passes between Delano Township and Benjamin Hills to converge with K-96 (Northwest Expressway) by the Sherwood Glen neighborhood. K-96 overlaps with I-235 east 2.40 miles to the junction with I-135-U.S. 81/K-15 and K-254 between the Wichita and Park City limits. K-96 turns south along I-135 while I-235 concludes opposite the freeway along K-254 to Kechi.
Interstate 235 Kansas Guides
The Wichita North Junction Project replaces the antiquated interchange with left exits where I-135/U.S. 81-K-15, I-235/K-96 and K-254 converge on the north side of Wichita. Partitioned into three main projects, the Green Project expands I-235/K-96 with auxiliary lanes, replaces bridges over the Little Arkansas River, Arkansas Avenue and Broadway Street and rebuilds the folded diamond interchange with Broadway Street into a much larger footprint. Costing $65 million, work on the first phase of the Wichita North Junction Project got underway in March 2019 and wraps up in November 2021.
The Gold Project, Phase 2A commenced on April 5, 2021. $30.2 million in construction replaces the loop ramp taking K-96 west from I-135 north to I-235 south with a two lane flyover. Work runs to December 2023. Gold Project, Phase 2B will separate K-96 east from I-135 south onto a new two-lane direct connection from Interstate 235 northbound. Estimated to cost $86 million in 2020, project letting is anticipated for late 2022.
The Purple Project, Phase 3 will realign the mainline for I-135, I-235 and K-254 to eliminate left exit ramps and complete the systems interchange between the two freeways. Preliminary design for the estimated $114 million project was completed by October 2020. Construction is unfunded as of Fall 2021.
 scenes |
 | Seneca Street meets Interstate 235 at a diamond interchange (Exit 2) by the Southwest Wichita neighborhood. 11/01/16 |
 | Interstate 235 curves 1.8 miles southeast from Seneca Street to I-135/U.S. 81 at the South Area neighborhood of Wichita. 11/01/16 |
Photo Credits:
11/01/16 by AARoads and JP Nasiatka
Connect with:
Interstate 135
U.S. 54
U.S. 400
Highway 96
Highway 254
Page Updated 10-13-2021.