Davids, Kelly Celebrate Announcement of New Highway Construction in Miami County
LOUISBURG, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids and Governor Laura Kelly joined Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz and Miami County officials to celebrate the K-68 highway expansion project advancing to construction. The project, which has been a priority of the county since 2008, will help meet traffic and safety needs by expanding the last remaining stretch of the roadway from two to four lanes. As the Vice Chair of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Davids helped pass the bipartisan infrastructure law, which is bringing an additional $89 million per year—$445 million over five years—to Kansas highway projects.
"It's a fact – making targeted investments in our local infrastructure creates good-paying jobs, improves safety, and brings economic development to our communities," said Davids. "The bipartisan infrastructure law continues to help our state fund infrastructure projects like this one that have been too long overlooked. I am excited to support the K-68 expansion in Miami County and thank our state and local officials for their work to get this done."
Rep. Sharice Davids alongside Governor Kelly, KDOT Secretary Lorenz, and Miami County Officials.
"Expanding K-68 will make driving safer, enable businesses to get products to market more quickly, and help workers spend more time with their families – and less time commuting," said Governor Kelly. "I'm proud to make this $48 million investment in a project that will benefit Miami County for decades to come."
"Partnerships are the foundation of IKE, and I very much appreciate Miami County stepping up through their local contribution to make the completion of K-68 a reality," said Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz. "Thanks to the foresight of Kansans, the bipartisan support of legislators, the support of Representative Davids and the leadership of Governor Kelly, we have created a transportation program that allows us to make much needed improvements all across the state that we can afford."
"The K-68 corridor is an important connector for Miami County residents but also plays a vital role in the region's transportation network," said Miami County Commission Chairman Rob Roberts. "We have been looking forward to the safety improvements this project provides. It was an honor to have Governor Kelly, Rep. Davids and Secretary Lorenz join us for our community celebration marking the project's inclusion in the next round of IKE projects."
This 6.68 mile expansion will allow the roadway to finally meet recommendations set in the K-68 Corridor Management Plan back in 2009 after a series of delays and funding shortfalls during the Brownback Administration. This expansion follows a series of interim improvements that began in 2021, including adding turn lanes and access roads. Announced earlier this month as one of 11 KDOT projects moving to construction, the K-68 widening is expected to cost $48 million with designs being completed in 2023 and letting in 2025. Today's event took place at Louisburg Ford, which is considered "Mile Zero" on the project's east side.
Previously announced projects gaining bipartisan infrastructure law funding in the Third District include: improvements at several airports in Johnson County, the long-awaited US 69 expansion project, replacement of lead pipes in Olathe and Kansas City, Kansas, $225 million over five years to repair and modernize Kansas bridges, and over $500 million for existing federal highway and bridge programs in Kansas. The law has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.