The Kansas Turnpike Authority continues its work to switch from traditional tolling to cashless, and the fruits of that process could well come to a tollgate near Emporia beginning later this year.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority is planning construction of three cashless toll zones between the Emporia service exit and Topeka, including the Admire tollgate 20 miles northeast of the Emporia gate. Overhead gantries will be installed this year, with related off-road work continuing the next few months as the weather permits. Senior Communications Manager Jeri Biehler says none of the cashless zones will be activated until the entire process is complete next year.
Bettis Asphalt & Construction won the contract with a $4.2 million bid.
Southwest of Emporia, and essentially from Emporia to Wichita, five cashless toll zones will be built, with the closest one near El Dorado. Dondlinger & Sons of Wichita had the approved bid of over $6.6 million.
