City of
Wichita officials said today that the Kellogg & Webb interchange
improvement project has been successfully bid for construction.
Wildcat
Construction, teamed with Dondlinger Construction, both of Wichita, was the low
bidder at $79.1 million. The contract comes after nearly a year of intensive
redesign efforts involving a partnership between the City, the Kansas Department
of Transportation (KDOT), and the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA).
“Having a
local contractor will likely provide opportunities for local subcontractors,
vendors, and suppliers,” Gary Janzen, a City engineer, said. “KDOT is
anticipated to approve the bid in three to four weeks, at which time the City
Council’s approval will also be requested.”
The project
will improve Kellogg to a six-lane freeway with frontage roads on both sides
providing access to the nearby turnpike. Webb Road will be expanded as
well. To address traffic congestion, City crews installed a temporary
traffic signal on June 10 at Webb and Corporate Hills Drive, which is the main
entrance to the recently opened Costco retailer.
The temporary
signal will be replaced with permanent facilities as part of the overall
improvement project.
Construction
is expected to begin in August and be completed in 2019. The first year
will primarily entail utility relocation and other preparatory work, which
should have minimal impact on the traveling public.
