Grant announced to improve north Wichita highway junction

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety – announced Thursday a $21 million Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant for the City of Wichita to replace and modernize the single-lane system connecting I-235 to I-135 and K-96.  "This is great news for the city of Wichita," said Sen. Moran. "This grant will invest significant resources into the efficiency and safety of this interchange that joins three major highways in Wichita and helps connect nearby businesses, Wichita State University, rural communities, downtown Wichita and local commuters with the rest of the city and state. Modernizing our highway system not only improves commerce in the area, but will also increase travel throughout south central Kansas."  This grant will fund construction of a new two-lane system ramp, a flyover ramp, continuous auxiliary lanes and improvements to the bridge. Sen. Moran joined Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and U.S. Representative Ron Estes (R-Kan.) earlier this year in urging U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to invest in this project.