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.​​​​