Turnpike six lanes?

GRID · Post by **GRID** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 11:49 pm

OK, I read this and thought no way. 35,000 cars a day and you get six lanes? I-70 is wide open once you get past, well, 635 really, but out there it's really wide open. It's just amazing that KS has the money to do projects like that while Missouri has four lane highways that carry over 100,000 cars a day. How much money does that Turnpike make anyway?

Oh well, I guess if the have the money, go for it.

Posted on Sat, Jan. 01, 2005

I-70 expansion project set to begin Monday

By LAURA FRANCOVIGLIA The Kansas City Star

A project to widen a stretch of Interstate 70 between Lawrence and Topeka that carries the highest volume of traffic on the Kansas Turnpike will begin Monday.

About 35,000 drivers per day use the 14-mile stretch of highway, which will be widened to three lanes on both sides between the East Topeka interchange and the Lecompton interchange.

During construction, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in both directions. And because construction will be done on the outside shoulders of the road, the speed limit will not be reduced, said Tom Wurdeman, Kansas Turnpike Authority chief engineer.

â€œIt should not be of a disservice to travelers,â€

KCK · Post by **KCK** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:05 am

If they are going to expand the turnpike to 6 lanes at all, it should be 6 lanes all the way from KC to Topeka rather than just Lawrence to Topeka. Also they need to add exits in Leavenworth County.

The turnpike is always under construction. I mean will they just let it be for a little while? I mean from the time I was 16 years old until I turned 22 the turnpike was under construction. Then they took a couple years off. Now they are back at it. I hate construction.

BVC · Post by **BVC** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 7:17 pm

DMW, the busiest section of the Kansas Turnpike is between Lawrence and Topeka. The turnpike expansion plan includes work on the Lawrence to KC expansion beginning upon completion of the current expansion. And yes GRID, they do have the money to pay for this and come very close to breaking even, no stats but restating my cousin's statements who's company is contracted out by KDOT on most projects. That is all you need to do on a toll road anyway.

KansasCityCraka · Post by **KansasCityCraka** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 7:51 pm

I geuss if they have the money go for it but if they have to ask for state money thats dumb

Brooksider · Post by **Brooksider** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:21 pm

Toll roads pay for themselves. I-70 in MO could do this also if it were a toll road.

Beltonhawk · Post by **Beltonhawk** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:56 pm

If I remember correctly, the turnpike is completely paid for as of a few years ago. The tolls collected go towards maintenance, expansion, etc..

anniewarbucks · Post by **anniewarbucks** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:01 pm

The problem though with the turnpike is that the lanes are built with with nothing but asphault. I have noticed that the newer concrete highways are lasting longer than any asphault roadway. While I was broke down on 75, I looked at the way that the road was built and was pleased with the way that it is holding up. The road is actualy built in one piece and then is cut down about 1 inch then is calked shut. If the turnpike would do this it would last three to four times as long.

I am also wondering why since the turnpike authority moved the East terminal further west. There are numerous bridges that could be converted to interchanges. These would make the western edge of KC grow even faster. even through Leavenworth County

kcmetro · Post by **kcmetro** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:57 pm

They keep using asphalt because they're cheap bastards. Cheaper to repave with asphalt every ten years than to put down concrete that would last for 40 years.

Post by **DaveKCMO** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:33 am

the legislature needs to get off of their collective asses and change the constitution to allow toll roads. otherwise, 70 will continue to decay and lives will be lost.

people aren't going to forget about fred phelps and the evolution debate just because they see a short stretch of gleaming new highway (that they paid to use).

anniewarbucks · Post by **anniewarbucks** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:20 pm

The turnpike is being widened to 6 lanes now from Lecompton exit to west Lawrence exit.

kcmetro · Post by **kcmetro** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:31 pm

anniewarbucks wrote: The turnpike is being widened to 6 lanes now from Lecompton exit to west Lawrence exit.

Really? You mean they extended the previous plan of just East Topeka to LeCompton?

anniewarbucks · Post by **anniewarbucks** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:38 pm

Yes there are bridges being extended and widened in this area.

kcmetro · Post by **kcmetro** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:45 pm

anniewarbucks wrote: Yes there are bridges being extended and widened in this area.

Oh, that is Kasold Dr. I believe. They are just widening that for growth reasons north of the turnpike in Lawrence. They won't be widening the TP from LeCompton to West Lawrence for another few years at least, so it won't be part of this phase.

anniewarbucks · Post by **anniewarbucks** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:48 pm

There was another bridge about 1 mile further that was being rebuilt.

kcmetro · Post by **kcmetro** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:52 pm

anniewarbucks wrote: There was another bridge about 1 mile further that was being rebuilt.

Hmm. Maybe they changed their initial plans. I'll have to pay attention next time I drive back to Topeka next week.

anniewarbucks · Post by **anniewarbucks** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:12 pm

The turnpike has only two miles to be finnished. These are one mile each way from the East Topeka Service Area. I think that next year they are going to take it to Iowa as the bridges are being rebuilt just like they were on the initial six lane project.

GRID · Post by **GRID** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:31 pm

Kansas turnpike authority = $loaded$...

lock+load · Post by **lock+load** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:00 pm

GRID wrote: Kansas turnpike authority = $loaded$...

MO could learn a thing or two from the KS Turnpike

GRID · Post by **GRID** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:06 pm

lock+load wrote: MO could learn a thing or two from the KS Turnpike

Modot is fine.....................in St Louis.

I think leaders on this side of the state could learn a thing or two and force Modot (on this side of the state) to quit treating KC Like a step child.

I still can't believe we are getting a new triangle.

knucklehead · Post by **knucklehead** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:53 am

Kansas gasoline tax is 7 cents a gallon higher than the Missouri Gasoline tax.

Think 3,000,000 vehicles at 1,000 gallons a year times 7 cents. According to my math that is about 300 million a year. You get what you pay for.

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