The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced Monday that a $10 million project on a section of highway, previously designated as K-14 in Reno and Rice counties, is expected to begin Thursday, July 20, 2023. This 17-mile section, of what had been K-14, was replaced last month by a new K-14 alignment.
The KDOT project includes about a 12-mile section of highway in Reno County, from about 4.5 miles southeast of Nickerson to the Reno/Rice County line. The work will include a mill and hot-mix-asphalt overlay and bridge repair. This part of the contract amounts to about $4.6 million.
The project also includes about a five-mile section of highway in Rice County, from the Reno/Rice County line to 1,370 feet north of Avenue U. The work will include grading and bridge repair and surfacing. This part of the contract amounts to about $5.4 million.
“Reno County will inherit that 12-mile stretch of highway but prior to accepting it, we have an agreement with KDOT that they would repair the road, drainage structures and bridges,” said Don Brittain, Director of Reno County Public Works. “Because of the 12-mile addition, we will receive $400,000 from KDOT so that we can purchase additional equipment that will help us maintain our current road standard.”
The work in both counties will be done in stages with bridge repair first, followed by pavement work in 2024.
“I think it is exciting to see all the progress with improvements and needed repairs to this section of highway previously known as K-14,” said Reno County Commission Vice-Chairman Randy Parks, District One. “It will help to better connect our communities and create safer roads to travel on. To all who use the highway as repairs are being made, please be safe and respect the construction speed zones for the safety of you and the workers.”
The project for previous K-14 in Reno and Rice counties is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024.
To read the KDOT release go to https://renogov.org/DocumentCenter/View/11963/07-10-23-KDOT-release-previous-K-14-project