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Supporters urge committee to name Wichita flyover for Don Snyder
Summary
A Kansas Senate committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 366 to designate the I-135/I-235 northbound-to-southbound flyover in north Wichita as the Don Snyder Memorial Bridge; a former KDOT colleague testified about Snyder’s career and said he would pay the required sign costs and 50% replacement fund.
Senator Peterson opened a hearing on Senate Bill 366, which would designate the northbound I-135 to southbound I-235 flyover (Bridge No. 0087-B-0854) north of Wichita as the Don Snyder Memorial Bridge.
Adam introduced the bill, saying, “This would be the North Flyover Bridge...to be designated as the Don Snyder Memorial Bridge,” and explained that highway signs would not be placed until statutory requirements are met and the secretary of transportation receives the cost of the signs plus 50 percent.
Mike Longshaw, who identified himself as a retired Kansas Department of Transportation employee, testified as a proponent. Longshaw recounted Snyder’s career at KDOT, including his roles as a construction engineer, district materials engineer and metro engineer in Wichita and his leadership on the project that built the flyover. Longshaw said Snyder “was involved in the design, involved in the right of way acquisition, involved in the construction,” and added that Snyder returned from retirement to mentor younger engineers.
Longshaw also described Snyder’s bicycle accident and death and pledged to cover the commemoration costs: “I will take care of that. I will get a check to KDOT to pay for that,” he said. Longshaw noted the customary financing model for such signs and the need to meet statutory sign-placement requirements.
Committee members thanked Longshaw and asked clarifying questions about the project and Snyder’s role. Senator Peterson noted written testimony from Greg Shriver, and, seeing no additional proponents, opponents or neutrals, closed the hearing on SB 366 and said the committee intends to work the bill next week.
The hearing provided committee members background about Don Snyder’s service at KDOT and a donor’s offer to pay commemoration costs; no final committee vote was taken on the bill at this meeting.
