KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - I-135 & Kellogg Ramps Reopen
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K-DOT says the ramps at I-135 and Kellogg have reopened to traffic.
By Kara Sewell (WICHITA, Kan.)
According to Tom Hein with the Kansas Department of Transportation the ramps at I-135 and Kellogg will open sometime Friday evening.
Reporter Video: Kara Sewell Drives on New Kellogg I-135 Ramp
Reporter Video: Kara Sewell on Kellogg & I-135 Reopening Today
Hein says the construction company has to complete this phase of the project by Saturday to avoid penalties.
As barrels go up, a coat of paint is put down.
Finishing touches before ramps open from Kellogg to Interstate 135. For six months, it's been closed and orange cones have been every where.
Construction began in May, squeezing Kellogg down to two lanes. On Friday, cars moved a little easier, west bound traffic is back to three lanes.
A last step before opening ramps.
But if all the equipment isn't gone and the ramp isn't open by Saturday the contractor could face a financial penalty for not finishing the project on time.
"Our contractor will make that deadline, we are pretty sure except for half of the bridge over hydraulic for east bound Kellogg," says Tom Hein with Kansas Department of Transportation.
That bridge had to be rebuilt, after a mistake with the concrete.
So, east bound traffic will stay at two lanes until that portion of the bridge is finished next year.
"We have the rock road interchange opening, we this interchange opening again, travel will be much easier for the winter until we start phase two in the spring," says Hein.
Hein isn't the only one thinking about the future, drivers are preparing too.
"With intrust arena coming up, I've got tickets to go to a couple of concerts and that is going to be chaotic so with the ramps being open it will help ease the pain of traffic getting there," says Dennis Free who drives on Kellogg daily to get to work.
And drivers daily commute won't be bad either.
The second phase of the project starts in March. At that point, the ramps from I-135 to Kellogg will be closed.
The entire project should be complete next fall.
Hein says their have been problems with the temporary lines on Kellogg where the three lanes merge into two.
The lines aren't sticking and become wavy. Hein is asking drivers to use caution when merging in this area.
