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Construction of an underground tunnel diverting Olathe traffic

Road closed sign

Olathe, KS - Traffic is being rerouted on Santa Fe between Chestnut Street and Kansas Avenue. That's because for the next eight weeks, an underground tunnel is being constructed to transport prisoners from the jail to the new Johnson County courthouse, currently under construction. 

The tunnel will connect to another that's already been in existence since 1988 and is used to transfers prisoners to the current courthouse. 


"It's safe, secure, and the most reliable way to transfer the inmates," says Assistant County Manager, Joe Waters. 

Waters says it's a very simple tunnel, constructed of concrete with lighting, sprinkler systems, and heating and cooling.

It's also used as a staging point when bringing prisoners in from out South, explaines Waters. The project should be complete and roads back open on April 18.