A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for a new two-lane flyover that will connect northbound I-135 to southbound I-235. The project is another step in an ongoing project to improve the North Junction, which connects I-135, I-235, K-254 and K-96.
The two-lane bridge is a 1,323 foot, weathering steel superstructure on a curved alignment. This is part of a sub-phase of several projects to improve traffic flow at the North Junction. The southbound I-135 exit to southbound I-235 was rebuilt and improvements were made to the westbound K-254 exit to southbound I-135. Completion of this work is expected later this year. The construction cost for this sub-phase is $36.3 million.
Acting Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed spoke at the ceremony and said the work will allow for more efficient and safer movement of the nearly 100,000 vehicles that use the North Junction every day. Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple and Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner also took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
[ photo: Kansas Department of Transportation – Facebook ]
