East Topeka Interchange

Clearing up Congestion in the State Capitol

In March 1999, the East Topeka Interchange project was the single biggest project KDOT let to construction at $64.9 million. This project greatly enhanced the flow of traffic for motorists by improving the alignment in east Topeka on the Kansas Turnpike, I-70, K-4, and US-40. It involved connecting K-4 to I-70 and the Kansas Turnpike, constructing two folded diamond interchanges, and building two new toll plaza facilities that have commuter parking areas and automated toll lanes.

A total of 13 bridges and two box bridge extensions were also constructed. All the structures on the interchanges required a total of 2,800 tons (or 5,650,000 pounds) of steel. Other statistics on the interchange include:

• 10,801 feet of pre-stressed beams
• 16 bridges within the 39 lane miles of roadway built on the project
• 38,220 shear studs
• 23,966 square yards of overlay
• 4,385,000 cubic yards of excavation
• 364,700 square yards of concrete pavement
• Six miles of ramps
• 5,899 feet of steel piling
• 3,684,000 pounds of reinforcing steel

The interchange includes two roundabouts, which were the first on the state highway system.