​​​​​​​Governor Laura Kelly announces more than $5 million to improve bridges

“My administration remains committed to improving the overall transportation system in our state – and that includes bridges in need of long-overdue repairs,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By fostering partnerships among all levels of government, we can build the robust and responsive infrastructure system that keeps Kansans safe, our commerce flowing, and our economy continuously flourishing.”

The KLBIP is a state-local partnership initiative included in the Kelly Administration’s bipartisan, 10-year Eisenhower Transportation Legacy Program, or IKE. The Kelly administration reinstated KLBIP in 2019 to assist cities and counties by providing up to $150,000 toward the replacement or rehabilitation of a bridge on the local roadway system. For this recent round of KLBIP selections, a total of 62 applications were received with requests for $10.5 million in funds.

“These local bridges are the lifeblood of many communities. Most ag loads start in a field, are placed in a truck that then has to cross a county bridge to get to a state highway or rail line,” KDOT Secretary Lorenz said. “Congratulations to these Kansas communities for partnering with KDOT and securing local matching funds that keep critical bridges open to the public and moving commerce.”

There are approximately 19,300 bridges on Kansas’ local road systems. About 26% – or 5,000 – of those bridges are in poor condition or unable to meet today’s weight and vehicle requirements. The KLBIP targets bridges 20-50 feet in length and a daily vehicle count of less than 100. 

Wabaunsee County received $150,000 in funding for a bridge replacement 7.0 miles east of Alma and 3.0 miles south of I-70 on Boothill Road over Tributary of Snokomo Creek; as well as an additional $50,000 for closing a second deficient bridge, replacing it with a box culvert on Hessdale Road.

Secretary Lorenz congratulated Wabaunsee County Road & Bridge Supervisor Thayne Bush for making the most of the resources available by securing additional funding for removing a second deficient bridge from the county inventory; accomplishing improvements on two structures with the KLBIP award.

A link to a map showing the projects is here.

The list of recipients and project locations are below. Those with an asterisk indicate recipients that closed a second deficient bridge to receive an additional $50,000.