Armstrong Road Bridge near Havensville. The bridge, built in 1910, will be replaced as part of a statewide bridge improvement project announced Tuesday in Westmoreland. (Photo courtesy Pottawatomie County Public Works).

Gov. Laura Kelly was in Westmoreland Tuesday to announce more than $40 million will support 33 local and off-system bridge projects across the state in fiscal year 2024, including one in rural Pottawatomie County.

Joined by Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz and Pottawatomie County Commission Chair Pat Weixelman, Gov. Kelly highlighted the local project along Armstrong Road over Vermillion Creek, just northeast of Havensville. It’s one of just two in the area that crosses the creek.

“Without it, locals would have to drive a long way out of their way to get home. But the bridge was built in 1910 and it’s no longer safe. With this announcement, Pottawatomie County is receiving $1 million and is committing its own funds, to finally replace that bridge,” she said.

Commissioner Weixelman noted the cost-sharing will help immensely. The county contributed a local match of about $147,000.

“This structure, upon completion, will be used everyday for at least the next 60 years. That’s getting a bang for your buck over a period of time. I look forward to the financial help that they (state/federal government) give us in the future,” he said.

The Pottawatomie County project is one of 22 off-system bridge program projects announced, totaling $20.5 million. That program provides funds to replace or rehabilitate bridges not included in the federal-aid system. The program will also support a $950,000 project along Old Milford road northeast of Junction City and a $930,000 project along Fairfield Road over Hendricks Creek, northeast of Alma.

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In addition, 11 Local Bridge Improvement Program projects were announced, totaling $21 million. That program provides funds to replace or rehabilitate city and county-owned bridges throughout Kansas. The programs were re-shaped to take advantage of new revenue streams generated by the federally approved Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

Outgoing Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz praised the governor’s efforts to shut down the so-called Bank of KDOT, by not diverting any funds to general government uses.

“Instead of putting those on state highways, we can share that money with local government. With cities and counties. It doesn’t matter how good our state highway system is, if you can’t get to it — if you can’t get across a local bridge.

A complete list of the projects that will take advantage of the two programs is shared below.

Kansas – 2024 Off-System Bridge (OSB) Program Projects

County

 Bridge Location

 Local Cost

Local Cost %

 Total Funds Awarded (covering 100% of construction and CE)

Brown County

1 mile south of Fairview – carrying 220th west of U.S. 75

$49,141

7.9%

$570,000

Pottawatomie County

Armstrong Road over Vermillion Creek – 2 miles north, 1 mile east of Havensville

 $147,423

11.3%

$1,160,000

Wabaunsee County

Fairfield Road over Hendricks Creek – 1 mile north, .2 mile east of Alma

 $89,546

8.8%

$930,000

Chase County

Main Street over Cottonwood River – .8 mile west of Cedar Point

 $125,583

6.7%

$1,740,000

Geary County

Old Milford Road – 3 miles north, 1 mile west of Junction City

 $94,460

9.0%

$950,000

Jewell County

1.3 miles south, 6 miles west of Mankato

 $185,863

16.4%

$950,000

Ottawa County

Laramie Road – west of Minneapolis

 $87,362

4.7%

$1,790,000

Ellis County

370th Avenue over Big Creek – 6 miles south, and 1 mile west of Walker

 $50,233

4.0%

$1,210,000

Osborne County

S 180th Avenue – 1 mile south, .7 mile west of Covert

 $49,141

6.6%

$700,000

Phillips County

Kiowa Road – 6.5 miles north, .5 mile west of Agra

 $50,233

6.1%

$770,000

Rawlins County

0.8 mile south, 2.2 miles west of Blakeman

 $44,773

8.2%

$500,000

Rooks County

2.2 miles south, 2.5 miles east of Plainville

 $44,773

8.1%

$510,000

Smith County

2.7 miles south, 7 miles east of Smith Center

 $50,779

4.7%

$1,040,000

Chautauqua County

0.6 mile south, 2 miles east of Cedarvale

 $60,061

9.1%

$600,000

Labette County

25000 Road, 4 miles east of Parsons

 $103,742

9.8%

$960,000

Montgomery County

1800 Road, 1.5 miles east of Coffeyville

 $70,982

4.5%

$1,490,000

Butler County

SW Prairie Creek Road over Eight Mile Creek – 1 mile east, 1.3 miles north of Rose Hill

 $147,423

24.3%

$460,000

Kingman County

 SE 100 Street – 3.2 miles north, .2 mile west of Rago over Rose Bud Creek

 $27,301

4.7%

$550,000

Pawnee County

40th Avenue – 7 miles east, 4.5 miles north of Larned

 $60,061

5.7%

$990,000

Reno County

Victory Road over Little Arkansas River – .5 mile east, 2 miles south of Buhler

 $62,245

7.1%

$820,000

Stafford County

NE 130th Avenue – 7.1 miles north, 13.5 miles east of St. John

 $65,521

5.2%

$1,200,000

Ness County

2 miles north, 4 miles east of Beeler

 $87,362

12.5%

$610,000

Totals

 $1,754,008

7.9%

$20,500,000

 

 

 

2023 Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program Projects

Local Government Agency

Location

Local Cost

Local % Match Requirement

Maximum KDOT Match Funds

Funds for Bridge Removal

Maximum Funds Awarded

Atchison County

 314th Road over Deer Creek – 3.5 miles north of Atchison

 $127,313

15%

$930,000

 $90,000

 $1,020,000

Cloud County

 190th Road over Republican River – 1.7 miles north, 4.4 miles east of Concordia

 $554,271

10%

$4,173,000

 $97,000

 $4,270,000

Saline County

 McReynolds Road – 1 mile south, 1.5 miles east of Smolan

 $92,071

15%

$350,000

 $50,000

 $400,000

Cheyenne County

 10 miles north, 3.5 miles west of St. Francis

 $ –

0%

$500,000

 $50,000

 $550,000

Gove County

 3.4 miles north, 2.6 miles east of Quinter

 $22,933

0%

$450,000

 $  –

 $450,000

Greenwood County

 1.6 miles west of Hamilton

 $ –

5%

$1,095,000

 $215,000

 $1,310,000

Neosho County

 2 miles north of Chanute

 $2,237,968

15%

$5,400,000

 $  –

 $5,400,000

Barber County

 Kingfisher Road – 3.1 miles north, 4.5 miles west of Hardtner

 $49,141

0%

$700,000

 $  –

 $700,000

Barton County

 East Barton County Road – 2.9 miles east of Great Bend

 $209,369

15%

$1,000,000

 $  –

 $1,000,000

Edwards County

 Q Road and 280th Avenue – 6.2 miles south, 1 mile east of Belpre

 $28,393

0%

$450,000

 $  –

 $450,000

Hamilton County

 Road B – 1 mile south of Coolidge

 $283,926

0%

$5,450,000

 $  –

 $5,450,000

 

 $3,605,385

$502,000

 $21,000,000