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KDOT bridge project on I‑70 will divert traffic to county roads; commissioners press for detour support and emergency access plans
Summary
Commissioners were briefed on KDOT bridge work that will require overnight closures and detours onto Whiskey Lake Road; they asked public works to coordinate with KDOT on gravel and emergency-access arrangements and were invited to a public meeting with DOT leadership on Nov. 13.
County staff and commissioners discussed a Kansas Department of Transportation bridge project on I‑70 and K‑18 that will require pier installation and periodic overnight closures. Project briefings described large foundation piers and a schedule that could push some traffic onto Whiskey Lake Road as an official detour while work is underway.
Commissioners raised concerns about the condition of the detour route and the effect of increased heavy traffic on local roads and emergency response times. Staff said they will meet with KDOT representatives about placing rock on the detour and requested KDOT assistance to help fund material for short-term surfacing. KDOT staff described the detour as temporary and emphasized overnight closure plans for certain heavy operations similar to previous overnight bridge work.
The county was told KDOT scheduled a public meeting at the local fire station with Secretary of Transportation Reed and highway patrol representatives on Nov. 13 (time noted in the record as mid-afternoon). Commissioners asked staff to coordinate that meeting and to work through emergency-service routing and any intergovernmental maintenance agreements the detour may require.
Next steps: Public works will coordinate site visits with KDOT, assess rock/gravel needs for detour segments, and report back to the commission after the Nov. 13 public meeting with DOT and the highway patrol.
