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Mayor Duncan, officials say new KTA interchange at 29th Street could unlock development in East Topeka
Summary
Mayor Duncan and city staff described a Kansas Turnpike Authority interchange at 29th Street as a time-sensitive economic development opportunity, saying KTA will provide nearly $4 million, take on maintenance and that improved access could attract hotels, retail and housing near Lake Shawnee.
Mayor Duncan said the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) has offered nearly $4 million to build an interchange at 29th Street and that the authority would assume long-term maintenance costs once construction is complete, calling the project a "now-or-never" economic opportunity for East Topeka.
"Once this is opened up, for instance, there'll be developers who will look at building a hotel because we now feel we can better serve that area," Mayor Duncan said, adding that the project could spur retail and housing near Lake Shawnee. He said KTA dollars are limited and the city needed to accept the offer when it came to the top of the authority's list.
Brandon, a city staff member, said council materials show roughly 100 acres of undeveloped land on the southeast side of the planned interchange and about 30 acres on the northeast side, with an additional 50 acres platted for single-family residential development. "There's endless opportunities for us," Brandon said.
The city manager emphasized operational benefits beyond economic development, noting that improved access would give emergency responders faster entry to the Kansas Turnpike near Fire Station 9. He quoted the fire chief on the change in response routes and described the project as an economic-development initiative more than a simple road project.
Why it matters: City officials argued that easier on/off access drives private investment — hotels and fuel or retail stops rely on convenient interchanges — and noted the Greater Topeka Partnership estimates about 2 million visitors to Lake Shawnee annually. Officials said the KTA project was prioritized after a decade of requests and that once KTA approves and funds a project it is difficult to obtain the same funding later.
What’s next: Officials said construction would take several years and the city would phase initial construction expenditures over time. The mayor and staff encouraged residents and developers to follow council materials for project details and timelines.
