Construction continues on the Kansas Turnpike northeast of Emporia, and will likely continue into fall.
The Turnpike Authority is in the second year of a bridge renovation process, with 10 bridges between the Emporia gate at mile marker 127 and the Emporia service area –at milepost 132 getting work. Most of those bridges are between mile markers 129 and 130. Head-to-head traffic, lane width restrictions and speed reductions will continue until the project is completed.
Meanwhile, a major improvement project to the highway itself, bridges near the Emporia exit and to the Emporia service area should begin late next week, although work at the service area now won’t start until next year.
A three-phase, $15 million project is set to begin Aug. 1 and continue through August 2020, weather permitting. Work on southbound bridges from mile marker 112, near the Flint Hills Cattle Pens exit, north a mile past the service area will be the first phase.
Construction then flips to northbound lanes by early next year. Ramp and parking improvements at the service area will take place during the second phase of the project. Bridge paving will be the final phase.
Also included in this project will be paving and replacing of expansion joints for bridges over the Cottonwood River By late August, traffic will be head-to-head at the river bridges with lane width restrictions and reduced speeds down to 65 mph.
Work was announced nearly two months ago. Cornejo and Sons of Wichita won the contract. Work near the service area should be done by summer 2020.
