U.S. 59: Process has taken years, and more work remains before new highway can open

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

It will be a long road to a new four-lane freeway between Ottawa and Lawrence.

Even though construction is under way, the project — a multi-million dollar undertaking that will significantly impact Franklin County — has years before drivers will be able to experience a safer U.S. 59.

A long process

Construction of the highway is divided into four parts, based on the Franklin-Douglas county line, an official from the Kansas Department of Transportation said.

“It’s basically divided north and south,” Howard Lubliner, KDOT road designer, said.

The first of four projects was let in April and will involve grading and bridge work from I-35, northeast of Ottawa, to the Franklin-Douglas county line, Lubliner said. Ames Construction, Inc., of Burnsville, Minn., is in charge of the first project at a cost of $43.7 million. Work began the second week in June on the 7.6-mile project.

Lubliner said the second project, the grading and bridge work covering 11.1 miles of Douglas County, tentatively is scheduled to begin in November. The third project, the surfacing of the Franklin County portion, is slated to begin in December. The surfacing of the Douglas County portion, the final project of initial construction, is scheduled to begin in June 2010.

Following the route

Lubliner said many people were involved in the selection of the route, including members of the county, cities, local partners and government agencies.

“A lot of different things were considered,” he said. “Overall, we chose the route with the best utility that could serve the most people and have the lowest impact.”

In total, 17 alternative alignments were considered, and the preferred alignment was selected for several reasons. The proximity to the existing U.S. 59 increased the likelihood that the new freeway will be the most effective in attracting traffic from the existing U.S. 59, KDOT’s Web site states.

It also creates opportunities for development along the western side of the existing U.S. 59 after it becomes a local access road, has the potential to incorporate some of the existing right-of-way and would not adversely impact the rural setting as much as other alternatives.

Franklin County interchanges will be constructed at I-35, Reno/Montana Road, Stafford Road and at a connection to existing U.S. 59, three miles north of Ottawa. Douglas County interchanges will be built at U.S. 56, 650 N. Road and County Road 458.

Expensive expansion

When the cost of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2011, was estimated in 2007, the cost of the construction totaled about $185.4 million, Priscilla Petersen, KDOT public affairs manager, said.

“When it’s all finally said and done, it will probably be higher than that,” she said.

The new total cost of the project, which includes construction, right of way, construction engineering and utilities, is about $214 million.

“It’s really a dynamic situation as far as costs go,” Lubliner said.

Herald staff writer Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.