U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary John D. Porcari last week kicked off construction of the I-135 Interchange, the first highway project in Wichita, Kan., with construction costs fully funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“The reconstruction of the I-135 interchange here in Wichita is a great example of a stimulus project that’s going to leave a lasting impression,” Porcari says. “This project is going to relieve a chronic bottleneck and open the door to new commercial and retail development.”
The winning $16.1 million bid on the I-135 Interchange construction came in $7 million less than expected, which will allow for additional improvements to 47th Street and for the completion of the K-18 Corridor from Ogden to Manhattan.
Overall, Kansas has obligated almost $250 million for transportation projects across the state, of which almost $220 million is for highway projects. “As a result of this ground-breaking legislation, we’re putting people back to work in Wichita and other communities across the country,” Porcari says.
