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US-59 Environmental Assessment Available for Viewing

November 15, 1999 (Release 99-247)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Contact: Ron Kaufman, (785) 296-3585

US-59 Environmental Assessment Available for Viewing

The Kansas Department of Transportation announced that the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the US-59 project from Ottawa to Lawrence will be available for public inspection and comment beginning Wednesday, November 17. It will be available until December 30, 1999 at the following locations during their regular business hours:

1. Ottawa City Hall, 101 S. Hickory Street, Ottawa
2. Douglas County Public Works Office, 1242 Massachusetts, Lawrence
3. Kansas Department of Transportation, Bureau of Design, 9th Floor, Docking State Office Bldg., 915 SW Harrison, Topeka
4. Federal Highway Administration, 3300 Topeka Blvd, Ste. 1, Topeka

A copy of the display map shown at the Public Information Open House has also been placed at the Ottawa City Hall and at the Douglas County Public Works Office.

The project alignment begins at I-35 about one mile north of the existing K-68 interchange and extends northwesterly to the existing US-59 approximately three and one half miles north of Ottawa. It then proceeds northeasterly until it is located about one mile east of the current US-59. It continues northward, bypasses Pleasant Grove, and then curves to the northwest and connects with the four-lane section of US-59 south of Lawrence.

The highway will be a four-lane freeway with access only at interchanges with I-35, Montana/Reno Road, US-56, 650N, and Douglas County Road 458 (1000N). There will be an interchange that connects the new freeway with the existing US-59 north of Ottawa. Selected county roads will cross the new freeway with overpasses.

Persons wishing to comment on the Environmental Assessment are asked to do so in writing. Address correspondence to Ron Kaufman, Public Involvement Liaison, Kansas Department of Transportation, Docking State Office Building, 7th Floor, 915 SW Harrison St., Topeka, KS 66612-1568.