TOPEKA -In accordance with measures outlined by State Budget Director Shawn Sullivan on Thursday, the Kansas Department of Transportation will delay projects scheduled for 2016 including expansion of U.S. 50 in Ford County, U.S. 54 in Seward County and planned improvements to Kansas 14 in Reno and Rice County.
In addition, two categories of road projects scheduled for fiscal years 2017 and 2018 will also be delayed, according to a KDOT media release.
Previously-programmed modernization and expansion projects will be delayed until remaining State Highway Fund revenues allow or new money is made available.
The delays in FY 2017 will include ten projects that have an estimated construction cost of $273.5 million; in FY 2018, the delays include 15 projects that have an estimated construction cost of $279.2 million.
“Despite the delays, the overall good condition of the 10,000-mile state highway system won’t be impacted since KDOT’s preservation projects will be let to contract as scheduled and will be funded at the $400 million per year level. Nor will these delays affect projects that are already underway.” said Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike King.
The preservation program covers a range of work, including pavement and bridge repair, resurfacing and replacement.
“I also want to assure our city and county partners that there will be no change in the amount of revenue they receive from the Special City County Highway Fund (SCCHF),” Secretary King said.
Annually, KDOT shares about a third, or almost $150 million, of the state fuels tax revenue with local governments through SCCHF. The project delays also won’t affect other KDOT programs that fund aviation, rail, public transit and more.