Whose keeping track of the Kellogg freeway project in Wichita?
Is the freeway finished going east under Rock Road?
If so, how far towards the K-96 bridge does it go?
There are still traffic lights at Webb and Greenwich and at the entrances to the Wal-Mart and Lowes shopping area east of Greenwich. We never go further west on Kellogg than Greenwich so I don't know about Rock Road. The flyover will never be without traffic lights of some kind.
QuoteThe Freeways component of the capital plan includes funding to complete Kellogg at
Rock, and design and right-of-way acquisition for future segments. Interchanges from
Webb east to 143rd Street East are included, as are interchanges at 119th, 135th and
151st Streets West. However, with the increase in construction costs, it is unlikely that
the Kellogg projects will be completed within the 10-year CIP timeframe.
From the Wichita Capital Improvement Plan 2007-2016, available at:
http://www.wichita.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E26F03C7-97E4-42EA-8693-00D935C3C459/0/ADOPTEDWorkbook.pdf (http://www.wichita.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E26F03C7-97E4-42EA-8693-00D935C3C459/0/ADOPTEDWorkbook.pdf)
The recommended alternatives have Kellogg going under Webb and then over Greenwich, Zelta (Lowes entrance), 143rd and 159th. The entrance/exit to/from the turnpike appears to still have two or three alternatives.
http://www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/PublicWorks/Engineering/KelloggProject.htm (http://www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/PublicWorks/Engineering/KelloggProject.htm)
I just read on the Wichita Eagle website this weekend that an eastbound Kellogg bridge that spans Hydraulic and channels traffic to I-135 will soon be torn down. The project started in May of 2009. The concrete used by construction crews to rebuild the bridge failed strength tests. It will be torn down and replaced by the contractor at no cost to taxpayers. Not good..............
QuoteWhose keeping track of the Kellogg freeway project in Wichita?
Not really keeping track, just go to the VA and library frequently. So . . .
QuoteIs the freeway finished going east under Rock Road?
no - not yet finished, but you can see substantial progress. The Rock Road / Kellogg interchange is nearly finished; Kellogg on either side isn't. People are driving on the completed frontage roads while the crews continue to work on Kellogg. We actually get on the completed portion just past Rusty Eck Ford, about the same time the frontage roads exit to the VA.
QuoteIf so, how far towards the K-96 bridge does it go?
No work at all towards the K-96 bridge yet. It's all "old-Kellogg" until the I-35 underpass, just in front of the Joe Self dealership and where the old K-Mart and Michaels stores used to be. There's a stop-light there and that's where vehicles transition to the frontage roads.
It looks like the portion starting at the I-35 overpass to the Towne East Mall (is that maybe a 1-mile stretch) should be finished soon. At least the main highway part; they will probably have to re-work the frontage roads a little since all the traffic has been driving on it so long.
The Kellogg highway system reminds me of most places in Texas... all the frontage roads are 1-way on either side of the highway, so if your destination is on a frontage road and you don't know where exactly, you have to go past it, exit at the next exit, flip around over/under the highway, and go back on the opposite side of the frontage road. And if your destination is between 2 exits, then flip around again and drive on the OTHER side of the frontage road until you arrive. Essentially, making a 360 degree full-circle to arrive.
Thanks,
I saw something recently that said they going clear to the Butler County line with the Kellogg freeway.
I lived in Mulvane from 1975 through 1980 and at that time Wichita (and us drivers) was bemoaning the fact that something had to be done with Kellogg.
It has now been a long time since they started the Kellogg project and from time to time I like to dispense with taking K-96 around the east side of town and go on to Kellogg and head east to see what they have accomplished. It drives my wife nuts since it takes quite a bit more time with all the construction.
I also recall they took quite a few houses and businesses to get the project going.
I moved from Wichita to Emporia 21 years ago and they have been working on the Kellogg project that whole, entire time.
I started working in downtown Wichita in 1979 and that part of Kellogg was in place then. That would be, just hold on, I'll get there, 30 years ago.
It still amazed at the money spent for a flyover in Wichita on Kellogg and all the lights going up on 54 between Wichita and Augusta.
I grew up just three blocks SE of the West St, Kellogg intersection. I think it was about 1951 when they started construction on Kellogg; supposed to be the absolute 'end' in highway construction. That did away with the old Maple Street Cannonball 54 highway going west out of Wichita. If I remember correctly the original plans had a 'flyover' the downtown area. It was only after many painful city commission meetings that the 'throughway' ended up coming to a stop at several downtown streets, lest the merchants should lose some revenue. This lasted until the second before last renovation of Kellogg; I suspect that it will never be completed. BTW, the construction of Kellogg through my neighborhood brought to an end the visits of the little carnivals that used to set up at the field on McCormick Ave. It also stopped the tent meetings that used to set up there. I never got to attend either one, but listened to many tales about them in the school yard. The stories were probably worse that the actual events. Lol! ;D
Well, it's a tough situation since Kellogg is the only East/West thoroughfare that goes completely through Wichita... and it's also where most of the business have set up shop. Catch 22 situation... if they didn't make it easy to travel straight through Wichita from East to West, then no one would do it... and the businesses wouldn't get any business.
I don't know how many miles Kellogg is from East to West, but I would imagine it would take a long time to complete it all.
I was in Wichita yesterday on Kellogg right at 5:00 and I didn't think it was too bad. A little slow around the Rock Rd intersection, but flowed fine. Then again, I drove in downtown KC for 4 years, so my idea of "not bad" may be someone else's nightmare. Most of the traffic subsides by Andover. I would say the worst part isn't even in the construction area... it's East of I-35 overpass... between where the construction starts/ends and Walmart/Lowes area. I assume they will eventually get a flyover/under in that area, too?
The article I read indicated the Kellogg Freeway would eventually go to the Butler County line.
It looks like Butler County starts about two miles east of the K-96 bridge and about one mile before Andover.
If KDOT were to push the freeway all the way to the railroad bridges on the east side of Augusta, that would be fine with me. That would also help with I-66, if there will ever be one in Kansas.
So, that puts the new freeway going to about where the stoplight is between Andover and K-96... I think they just put up a new QT store there. That'd be handy! If Andover continues to grow, though, they may have to do a flyover at that main intersection, too.
I-66? Where would that go? I thought a while back they were talking about putting a new interstate that runs NW from Wichita, meeting I-70 around Hays or so? Talk about HANDY DANDY. That'd cut our trip to my parents' by at least 1-1/2 hours, I'd imagine!
In the early 1990s, Wichita businessmen heavily lobbied Congress for an east-west Interstate running through Wichita and going from Washington DC to California.
I-66 was the result and it is now being built in Va and Kentucky. The folks in Va have run into environmental opposition. Kentucky appears to be running ahead to get the new interstate to the southeast Missouri line.
It was supposed to parallel I-44 in Mo and then split off and follow US 400 into Wichita and then head west through Colorado.
Since it was initially proposed all the states west of Kansas have shown no interest. And, it was supposed to go through Death Valley to which the National Parks objected.
There was some thought about the upgraded US 400 being a consolation prize for Wichita. Another thought was that the upgrade is the prelude to I-66.
There seems to be some other talk about I-66 going further south and missing Kansas altogether.
A background is at
http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-066.html
Earlier this week, I went under Rock Road, on the Kellogg Freeway, for the first time.
They have spent a good amount of money on niceties for Kellogg.
As I was passing under Rock Road, the bottom of the six or eight lane bridge looked like I could have been looking at someone's living room or family room ceiling complete with lighting.
Its faster than greased lightening to get across town.. I love it.. but I'm glad I don't have a business on that route.. I think it pretty much closed them off for the "drop in while going by"...
In the airport right now waiting to board a plane and they have the airport all torn up.. Don't know exactly what they are doing.. but whatever it is.. looks like it will be major..