Chase County commissioners voted Aug. 29 to move forward with a joint application for a Federal Highway Administration Bridge Investment Program grant and to sign a consulting agreement with Blue Valley Consulting to prepare the county’s submission. Consultant Brandy Sutherland told commissioners the FHWA program can cover the bulk of design and construction costs if local matching requirements are identified and committed.

Sutherland said the program could fund multi‑bridge work in the region and that the county has identified a set of candidate structures, mainly along Middle Creek Road, that would benefit from the funding. "This grant covers, design and construction costs, up to a $100,000,000," she said, and added she is coordinating with Osage County and local staff to build a competitive multi‑jurisdictional package. She also said Colleen Mendoza has agreed to serve as the lead applicant for the joint submission.

Under the program, Sutherland outlined, FHWA would pay roughly 80% of eligible costs; the local share is normally 20%, but Kansas’ Build Kansas Fund can provide up to 15% of that match so a local sponsor’s net could be about 5% if approved. Sutherland presented a candidate list totaling about 16 bridges with an estimated combined project cost in her summary; if all projects were pursued, she said, the local share could total roughly $3.7 million on a nearly $75 million package, and applicants must show how they will fund the match when applying.

Commissioners discussed the county’s limited annual bridge budget and the need to plan for the local share, including bonds or other financing. Sutherland recommended breaking large projects into smaller contracts so they can be constructed within federal timelines and to attract more bidders. The commission voted to enter the consulting agreement and to pay the consultant fee from the county’s multiyear capital fund.

What's next: staff will work with Blue Valley Consulting, Osage County and local officials on the application and on securing a strategy for the local match. The application timeline discussed in public remarks indicates a near‑term deadline for initial materials and a multiyear schedule for construction if awarded.