Kansas Department of Transportation
KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- At 12:10 p.m. today, Wednesday, December 17, the new Kansas Highway 7 to eastbound Interstate 70 ramp was opened to unrestricted traffic in Bonner Springs.
This ramp work is part of the K-7 & I-70 Interchange Project Phase 1 construction.
Effective as of 12:10 p.m. today, K-7 traffic must NOW utilize the new K-7 to eastbound I-70 ramp located south of I-70 at Speaker Road.
If K-7 traffic tries to utilize the old eastbound I-70 ramp, they will end up on westbound I-70/Kansas Turnpike, and traffic will then not be able to turnaround until they reach the KTA Toll Plaza located approximately seven miles west of the K-7 & I-70 interchange.
The new K-7 to eastbound I-70 ramp is accessed at Speaker Road, which is located just south of I-70. Access to the existing K-7 to eastbound I-70 ramp was located at Canaan Drive and this eastbound I-70 ramp access only (at Canaan Drive) was closed to all traffic at 2:45 p.m. today.
The existing ramp bridge over I-70 will be removed via equipment starting tomorrow, Thursday, December 18, weather permitting. It will take several days to remove the bridge and traffic impacts will include lane closures and short slowdowns during off peak hours on I-70.
Updated daily traffic information for this project and for the entire Kansas City Metro Area can be viewed online any time at:www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.
The K-7 & I-70 Interchange Project construction handout for Phases 1 and 2A-2B, including phasing schedule and traffic impacts, is available online at: http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/kcMetro/pdf/K-7%20and%20I-70%20Phase%202B%20Project%20Handout.pdf
The Kansas Department of Transportation urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and “Give ‘Em a Brake!” when approaching and driving through the project work zone.
Clarkson Construction is the project contractor on this $18 million construction Phase 1 project. This portion of the project work is scheduled to be completed in late Fall 2014.
