Wildcat Construction Wins $136.6 Million Bid to Widen Nine-Mile Stretch of I-70
Drivers who regularly drive through the bottleneck between Lawrence and Tonganoxie are about to get some breathing room. A $136.6 million project to convert a nine-mile stretch of the Kansas Turnpike into a six-lane highway has officially won approval, with heavy machinery slated to roll onto the asphalt this coming spring, www2.ljworld.com reported.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority announced on Tuesday that it awarded the construction contract to Wildcat Construction, Inc. The massive undertaking will widen Interstate 70 across Douglas and Leavenworth counties, stretching the existing six-lane configuration eastward from just past the East Lawrence interchange to a point east of the Tonganoxie/Eudora interchange. Right now, drivers heading east from North Lawrence experience a sudden squeeze as six lanes drop down to four. This project aims to iron out that friction point.
Weighing Future Growth Against Construction Chaos
The work is scheduled to kick off in mid-March and run for more than two years, with a targeted completion date in mid-June 2029.
This investment is about preparing the Turnpike for the future while continuing to provide the reliable roadway our customers depend on every day. By expanding this nine-mile stretch of I-70 to three lanes in each direction, we’re creating more room for travelers by addressing congestion, safety and future growth. Turnpike Authority
— Glen Scott, KTA chief engineer
Commuters will not be locked out of the corridor entirely while crews get to work. Turnpike officials confirmed that two lanes of traffic in each direction will remain open throughout the duration of the project. Even so, drivers should expect reduced speed limits, width restrictions for oversized freight, and occasional single-lane closures scheduled exclusively during off-peak hours.
Construction Crews Will Replace Two Local Overhead Bridges
While through traffic on the interstate will keep moving at a reduced pace, local infrastructure intersecting the turnpike will feel the immediate impact of the construction footprint. The project calls for the complete replacement of two overhead bridges.
The first affected span crosses the Kansas Turnpike on Loring Road just before the Lawrence Service Area. The second sits along 214th Street near Tonganoxie. Both local roads will be completely closed while construction crews rebuild the overpasses.
To keep local traffic flowing around the closures, the Kansas Turnpike Authority outlined specific alternate routes. Eastbound traffic aiming to bypass the Loring Road bridge closure will be routed north onto U.S. 24 Highway, travel east along Cantrell Road, and head south on 238th Street back to Loring Road. Meanwhile, northbound drivers on 214th Street will be diverted east onto Stillwell Road, north onto 206th Street, and finally west on Hemphill Road to reconnect with 214th Street.
