The Kansas Department of Transportation announced this week that construction and lane closures have begun on U.S. 69 Highway.
It is the beginning of a multi-year process to add express toll lanes on the congested highway between 103rd and 151st streets in Overland Park.
Lane closures will continue until Saturday
- Until Friday, Jan. 20, recurring intermittent lane closures will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. between 135th and 139th streets for geotechnical work.
- Another lane closure is set to take place from 8 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, along the same portion of the highway.
- Entrance and exit ramps to U.S. 69 may also be affected during this work.
The project is more than just toll lanes
- It also includes the construction of 11 noise walls and improvements to the 167th Street interchange.
- Once completed, two lanes going both north and south will also remain free while one express toll lane will be built in both directions between 103rd and 151st streets.
Overland Park set to contribute $20M for project
- Overall, the project is expected to cost around $300 million.
- The 69 Express project is the first in the state to take advantage of a law that allows local funding to be used to help ensure work gets done more quickly than if only state funds were used.
- Still, critics have objected to any local funds being used and have also questioned whether the toll lanes will be used enough to generate the revenue that will be used to pay back the city’s share.
More significant work will start this spring
- It is estimated the project will take approximately three years to complete, according to KDOT officials.
- The U.S. 69 express lanes are scheduled to be finished by the end of 2025, and the entire project, including the 167th Street interchange, is anticipated to wrap up by 2026.
Go deeper: Johnson County FAQ — express toll lanes on U.S. 69 Highway in Overland Park
