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87th Street & I-35 / US-69 Improvements

July 1, 2004 (04-88)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KDOT to Break Ground
on 87^th Street & I-35 / US-69 Improvements

Ramp to southbound U.S. 69 to close during relocation of Nieman Road

Lenexa, Kan. – The project to reconstruct the 87^th Street & I-35/US-69 interchange in Lenexa has been let for construction and is tentatively set to begin in mid-July. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) recently approved and awarded the contractor bid to Clarkson Construction Company, Kansas City, Mo., for the nearly $50 million project.

"We have formed an excellent partnership with the Kansas Department of Transportation and the City of Overland Park in efforts to improve this major interchange, said Lenexa Mayor Mike Boehm. "and we are very pleased to be working with Clarkson Construction Company on the project."

"I am very pleased to see this project move forward to construction,” said Secretary of Transportation, Deb Miller. “This has truly been a partnership effort between the State of Kansas and the cities of Lenexa and Overland Park and shows what can happen when state and local units of government work together toward a common goal. Because of the Kansas Legislature's renewed commitment to the Comprehensive Transportation Program, important projects like this one will be constructed as promised.”

In mid-July project leaders will hold an informational meeting with local business owners along the corridor. The meeting will give project leaders an opportunity to provide information about the project and address access concerns businesses have on behalf of their employees and customers.

"This is an exciting time as three years of planning and design come to an end and we begin the construction phase of this major interchange improvement," said Mayor Boehm. "This project is in direct response to the public's concern regarding east/west travel delays within the community, and our citizens will see a dramatic improvement in traffic flow once the construction on this important project is completed in the fall of 2006."

Information about closings and alternate routes has been distributed in printed materials and online at the project Web site at http://www.87th-i35.org. Media advisories will be issued prior to major closings to provide current information.

The cornerstone of the finished project will be a type of freeway interchange known as a Single Point Urban Interchange, or SPUI (pronounced “spoo-ee”). This new type of interchange will mean fewer delays, increased capacity, and safer operations. Aesthetics have been an important part of this project and the newly designed interchange will be a visually pleasing gateway into the community.

“While I know that construction delays are frustrating it's important to remember that this construction work represents jobs for Kansas citizens,” said Secretary Miller. “I am confident that travelers in the Johnson County area will see marked improvements and easier travel when the new 87^th Street and I-35 interchange is completed in 2006."

The 87th Street & I-35 / US-69 projects are a System Enhancement Project (SEP) partnership between KDOT, the City of Lenexa, and the City of Overland Park.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the project will be conducted Tuesday, July 20 at 10:30 a.m., with officials from KDOT and the cities of Lenexa and Overland Park. More information regarding groundbreaking ceremony activities will follow at a later date.

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Project Background Information

87^th Street & I-35 / US-69 System Enhancement Project Team

KDOT – (785) 296-5613 or toll free 1-877-550-KDOT (5368)
Email:maggiet@ksdot.org
Web site: http://www.ksdot.org/

City of Lenexa – (913) 477-7500
Email:sneely@ci.lenexa.ks.us
Web site:http://www.87th-i35.org

City of Overland Park – (913) 895-6032
Email:daniel.miller@opkansas.org
Web site: http://www.opkansas.org

Project Team Background Information

87^th Street & I-35 / US-69 System Enhancement Project Team

Improvements to the 87th Street & I-35 interchange have been designed to improve traffic flow and capacity. This project is a System Enhancement Program (SEP) partnership between the following public entities:

Kansas Department of Transportation

www.ksdot.org

As part of the 1999 Comprehensive Transportation Program, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is using System Enhancement Program dollars across the state to augment local partner contributions to improve highway corridors, improve interchange and grade separations, and construct bypasses. Current and projected traffic volume, the need for design improvements, and safety issues were used in the priority selection of SEP projects.

City of Lenexa

www.ci.lenexa.ks.us

The City of Lenexa is the local sponsor for the 87th Street & I-35 / US-69 project. Design work is being coordinated through the city's Public Works Department.

City of Overland Park

www.opkansas.org

As with the 87th Street & I-35 / US-69 project, work is being coordinated through the city's Public Works Department.

Clarkson Construction Company

www.clarksonconstruction.com

Clarkson Construction Company, was awarded the nearly $50 million dollar construction contract for the 87^th Street & I-35 / U.S. 69 project. Clarkson Construction Company is a sixth generation family-owned heavy, highway, and site work contractor that is headquartered in Kansas City, MO.

Parsons Brinckerhoff

www.pbworld.com

Parsons Brinckerhoff, founded in 1885, is one of the oldest continuously operating engineering firms in the world. PB has more than 9,000 people in more than 250 offices on six continents. PB’s Kansas City office, located in Lenexa, works on a number of local infrastructure and transportation projects and is providing the design and engineering services for this system enhancement.

Jane Mobley Associates

www.janemobley.com

Jane Mobley Associates is an award-winning communications consulting firm. Based in Kansas City, Mo., the firm also provides public involvement and community outreach services for public- and private-sector infrastructure studies and construction projects along the I-35/I-29 international trade corridor.