Other ARRA funded major projects under way are:

--K-61 to four lanes in McPherson County. In April, Koss Construction Co., Topeka, was awarded a $64.2 million contract for the McPherson County expansion work. The project is part of construction that will four-lane the entire section of K-61 between McPherson and Hutchinson by early 2012.

--U.S. 69 in Overland Park from I-35 to 103rd Street. The $82.3 million project will address congestion issues by reconstructing the interchange at 95 th Street and U.S. 69 and enhancing the corridor’s capacity.

--K-23 in Gove County. Venture Corporation of Great Bend was awarded the $7.8 million contract for improvements to 16 miles of K-23 in Gove County. The narrow, 50-year-old road lacks shoulders and has steep side slopes.

The reconstructed K-23 will incorporate components of KDOT’s ‘practical improvement’ philosophy. Asphalt will be added to the outer edge of the roadway as a practical alternative to expensive full width shoulders.

The last major ARRA funded project is tentatively scheduled to be let in March 2010 for the initial phase of four-lane construction work on K-18 between Fort Riley and Manhattan. The section of K-18 is one of the fasting growing corridors in the state.

With $16.4 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds allotted for regional transportation projects by local governments in the Wichita metro, the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) recently approved its list. In an attempt to stimulate many local economies, the funds were spread to six municipalities plus a project in an unincorporated area of Sedgwick County. Local match for the stimulus dollars is 10%.

1. Andover - S. Andover Rd. reconstruction, Cloud Ave. to Harry St. $1,234,800
2. Derby - Madison Ave. resurfacing. $472,500
3. Haysville - W. Grand Ave. resurfacing. $1,008,000
4. Park City - Broadway Bridge over Chisholm Creek. $1,890,000
5. Sedgwick County - Rock Rd. resurfacing, Pawnee to 63rd St. S. $2,070,000
6. Wichita - Broadway resurfacing, Central to 12th St. $486,000
7. Wichita - Hillside resurfacing, 9th to 12th. $864,000
8. Wichita - Hydraulic reconstruction, Kellogg to Harry. $2,970,000
9. Wichita - Maize Rd. reconstruction, Kellogg to Pawnee. $3,600,000
10. Wichita - Washington resurfacing, 1st to Central. $432,000
11. Valley Center - Ford St. Bridge. $1,350,000

Other Wichita metro projects announced by KDOT and not a part of this special allotment to WAMPO:

• I-135/47th St. S. Interchange
• Mulvane ped/bike path
• K & O Railroad siding in Sedgwick County

Today, February 17, the President will travel to Denver to sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the largest economic rescue program since the New Deal.   Following the enactment of the legislation, the transportation funds guaranteed in the measure have 21 days to be apportioned to the states.   KDOT staff estimate that the funding for highway projects will begin to be available later this week or early next week.   The funding will not be automatically transferred from the Federal Highway Administration to KDOT at once, but rather as is standard with federal funding, the State will be reimbursed when bills are submitted for completed project phases.  

Half of the funding for state projects must be obligated by KDOT within 120 days of the date of apportionment or the funds will be withdrawn from the State and placed in a pool for other states which have used their funds in the established time frame.   The second half of the funds must be spent within the year or they too can be withdrawn from the State and shared with other states.   Secretary Miller has pledged that KDOT will take action to ensure that all economic stimulus funds due to the State are used in Kansas.

More information concerning the ARRA legislation and KDOT’s plans to use the funds can be found on KDOT’s website http://www.ksdot.org/