By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Talks of expanding U.S. 56 Highway, just east of Great Bend, into a
four-lane expressway have been ongoing for years.
The Kansas Department of
Transportation is conducting a public meeting on Sept. 15 in
Great Bend to discuss the proposed plans to expand the highway.
KDOT Area Engineer
Michelle Burnett said the expansion would include about two miles of U.S. 56
from the east city limits of Great Bend to the K-156 intersection, or Doonan’s
corner.
"Last week we met with local landowners that would be impacted if we did that work," said Burnett. "We received their comments and feedback on plans. Now we'll have a public meeting."
The project is in the early design and study phase and is not yet funded for construction. Turning part of the highway between Great Bend and Ellinwood into four lanes was identified as a high regional priority during a local consult meeting in 2019 and was selected for the IKE Development Pipeline in May 2020. Once the project has moved through the final design, it would be eligible for the IKE Construction Pipeline.
IKE (The Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program) is a flexible, responsive rolling program focused on right-sized, practical transportation improvements throughout the state.
The meeting on Sept. 15 will be held from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at the Great
Bend Events Center. The public is welcome to stop by any time to view
information and speak with project staff.
For those unable to attend the meeting, materials and an online comment form will be on the project website, ksdotike.org/US-56-Expansion-Barton-County, from Sept. 16 to Sept. 23.