Kechi council backs K-254 plan, asks KDOT to buy extra right-of-way for future interchange

Kechi’s governing body voted unanimously to send a follow-up two-mayor letter to the Kansas Department of Transportation laying out the cities’ preferred concepts for the K-254 corridor and asking KDOT to acquire additional right-of-way now to preserve options for a future Greenwich interchange. Council members were presented maps and cost estimates showing a Webb DDI (staff noted an approximate $42,000,000 project and nearly 50 acres of right-of-way), a Rock Road overpass (about $7,000,000 and 2.33 acres), and improvements at Greenwich (roughly $4,000,000 and 1.3 acres).

Mayor (presenter) walked the council through the safety rationale KDOT used to prefer a DDI at Webb and explained that the overpass at Rock was recommended to avoid cutting off highway access for several neighborhoods. "This enables the traffic to continue moving north and south on Rock and gives people another way to get south," the mayor said during the presentation. Council member Brewer moved to approve the letter and Council member Hedstrom seconded; the motion passed 4–0.

Why it matters: councilors stressed safety and future urbanization needs for the corridor, and the letter asks KDOT to include walking and biking accommodations so students would have safe routes to Northeast Magnet High School.