By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

With the continued expansion north of Interstate 70, Ellis County has identified 55th street, 230th Avenue and Feedlot Road as roads that need upgraded.

Earlier this summer, Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Mike King toured roads and businesses in the area and said the state would be willing to partner with the county to help pay for the project.

Now KDOT is asking the county for a plan.

Public Works Director Mike Graf said he is still working on cost estimates but expected the projects to cost “several million dollars.”

Ellis County Commission Chairwoman Barb Wasinger said the upgrades need to be done but added, “We don’t have the money for it.”

Because of that, she said the county will have to finance the project.

Commissioner Swede Holmgren said he is not in favor of a bond issue, and he does not believe voters are either.

“If you force a bond issue on people now, you’re going to have a revolt,” he said.

Holmgren added that in a lot of cases the route is being used to bypass Hays.

He said if the upgrades were to go through, truck traffic can “take brand new county road 230th Avenue, brand new county road 55th street or brand new county road 230th Avenue, and it’s paid for by the county.”

Ellis County Administrator Greg Sund added the county already is struggling to come up with money to pay for the rest of the Old U.S. 40 project.

Because the eastern part of the Old U.S. 40 project came in almost 40 percent over estimates, funding for the western portion now is in question.

Graf said he would present the commission with cost estimates and the first meeting in September.