News Releases
Keep up on the latest KTA news by reading our press releases below.
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KTA HR Manager recognized in community
Feb 6, 2019
WICHITA, Kan.— Kansas Turnpike Authority Human Resources Manager, Diana Ensign, was selected to be part of the Advance Kansas, Class XI, which is a diversity initiative coordinated through Butler Community College. She is also a 2019 Human Resources Professional honoree by the Wichita Business Journal.
“Our organization has truly benefited from Diana’s hard work and dedication in the HR field,” said Steve Hewitt, KTA CEO. “Thanks to her leadership, we have been able make significant improvements that benefit KTA and our employees.”
In Ensign’s 30-year tenure at the KTA, she has been instrumental in establishing the company’s HR department and is currently leading many modernization efforts.
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Contracts awarded on two upcoming construction projects
Dec 28, 2018
WICHITA, Kan. – The Kansas Turnpike Authority announces bids have been approved and contracts awarded on two upcoming Turnpike construction projects.
Contract #7170 – Rehabilitation of four mainline bridges located two miles south of the South Wichita (I-35/I-135) Interchange in Sedgwick County at mile markers 40.02 and 40.45 I-35/KTA was awarded to Wildcat Construction Co., Inc. & Subsidiaries, Wichita, KS for $2,983,598.75. Construction can begin on March 11 and shall be completed by October 25, 2019.
Contract #7194 – Deck mill and overlay on bridges in Butler County at mile marker 94 and redeck and widen bridges in Chase County at mile marker 99.96 all on I-35/KTA was awarded to A.M. Cohron & Sons, Inc., Atlantic, Iowa for $4,817,485.94. Construction can begin on January 7 and shall be completed by December 13, 2019.
Construction details will be available closer to the start date on http://www.ksturnpike.com with impacts to traffic posted on http://www.kandrive.org/. Construction updates on this and other projects are published monthly in KTA’s electronic newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter using the form located at the bottom of any page on www.ksturnpike.com.
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Eight construction projects completed on Kansas Turnpike
Nov 16, 2018
WICHITA, Kan. – Holiday travelers will experience fewer construction zones along the Kansas Turnpike with eight of KTA’s 2018 construction projects complete. Four projects are currently underway, which are scheduled to be complete before the end of the year, weather permitting.
Many of these projects were identified in KTA’s 2015 Long Term Needs Study and are aimed to preserve, modernize and enhance the Turnpike system through 2025. To-date, the KTA has spent more than $189m on customer-driven improvements since January 2016, when work on projects outlined in the Study began.
Construction updates on all projects are published monthly in KTA’s electronic newsletter. Sign-up using the form located at the bottom of any page on www.ksturnpike.com.
Drivers are also urged to check for traffic impacts at http://www.kandrive.org/, subscribe to KTA Alerts for roadway incident information at http://bit.ly/KHeX6g, follow the Kansas Turnpike on Twitter, and watch for information on KTA’s digital message boards.
The eight completed projects, and their locations, include:
- Mile Marker (MM) 0.6, I-35/KTA (Sumner County): New north and southbound bridges for drainage improvement;
- MM 26, I-35/KTA (Sumner County): Constructed scour protection beneath the Ninnescah River Bridges;
- MM 20-60, I-35/KTA (Sumner and Sedgwick Counties): Preservation work (painting) of eight overhead bridges;
- MM 42, I-35/KTA (Sedgwick County): New guardrail, high-mast lighting and ramp improvements;
- MM 96-112, I-35/KTA (Chase County): Pavement resurfacing including portions of Matfield Green Service Area and service area ramp improvements;
- MM 129-130, I-335/KTA (Lyon County): Construction on ten northbound bridges (first year of a two-year project);
- MM 177, I-470/KTA (Shawnee County): Reconstruction of bridges crossing over Topeka Boulevard and south Topeka Interchange ramp improvements;
- MM 183, I70/KTA (Shawnee County): Converted East Topeka toll plaza to open road tolling.
Projects anticipated to be complete by the end of the year, weather permitting, include:
- MM 4, 6, I-35/KTA (Sumner County): drainage improvements and ramp extensions at South Haven interchange;
- MM 133-168, I-335/KTA (Lyon, Wabaunsee, and Osage Counties): Resurfaced roadway including the Admire Interchange;
- MM 137-165, I-335/KTA (Lyon, Wabaunsee, and Osage Counties): Increased vertical clearance of 11 bridges;
- MM 169, I-335/KTA (Shawnee County): Reconstruction of SW 85th Street bridge over the Turnpike.
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KTA celebrates employee service anniversaries in 2018
Nov 13, 2018
WICHITA, Kan.— Each year, the Kansas Turnpike Authority recognizes employees and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers assigned to the Turnpike, who are celebrating years-of-service anniversaries. For 2018, KTA recognized 61 individuals that collectively have 895 years of service to the KTA.
Employees reaching service anniversaries include:
35 Years:
- Mary Pinick (Derby), Audit Clerk
- Jim Orton (Americus), Equipment Operator
30 Years:
- Charles Knox (Wichita), Toll Collector
- Robin Thompson (Tonganoxie), Toll Collector
- William Brush (Shawnee), Equipment Operator
- Brenda Dryer (Kansas City), Toll Collector
- Diana Ensign (Wichita), Human Resources Manager
25 Years:
- Christy Metcalf (Augusta), Customer Service Representative
- Eric Roe (Wellington), APM Service Technician
20 Years:
- Debbie Bensing (Kansas City), Toll Collector
- Angie McKnab (Emporia), Toll Collector
- Dwight Brittain (Strong City), Equipment Operator
- Patrick Gwinup (Towanda), Toll Collector
- Sherri Kinsinger (Oxford), Customer Service Representative
- Elwood Phelps (Emporia), KHP Troop G Master Trooper
- Scott White (Topeka), KHP Troop G Master Trooper
- Aaron Amrein (Wellington), KHP Troop G Master Trooper
- Debra Garnett (Wichita), Customer Service Representative
- Eric Becker (Augusta), Director of Roadway Operations
- Tony Droge (Tecumseh), Highway Shop Superintendent
- Brian Gingrich (Topeka), Toll Collector
- Sheri Mayer (Olpe), Toll Supervisor
15 Years:
- Bill Stumpf (Mayetta), Assistant Highway Maintenance Foreman
- John Botbyl (Lawrence), Toll Collector
- Da’Von Brame (Wichita), KHP Troop G Master Trooper
- Lane Larimer (El Dorado), KHP Troop G Trooper
- Sam Sheetz (Topeka), Highway Maintenance Foreman
- Janet Allen (Milan), Toll Collector
- Randy Hurst (Augusta), Roadside Maintenance Worker
- Jake Jackson (Rose Hill), Operations Project Superintendent
- Louie McDowell (McLouth), Equipment Operator
- Michael Vargas (Wellington), Highway Maintenance Foreman
- Robert Winn (Lawrence), Maintenance Carpenter
10 Years:
- Russell Burk (Valley Falls), Maintenance Carpenter
- Nancy Gale (Rose Hill), Toll Collector
- Steve Jones (El Dorado), Toll Collector
- Shannon Moore (Carbondale), Design Construction Engineer
- Brian Neiberger (Meriden), Utilities Maintenance Electrician Superintendent
- Neal Charles (Derby), Incident Management Center Supervisor
- Carol Felts (Wichita), Toll Collector
- Christopher Mai (Wichita), KHP Troop G Master Trooper
- Sonja Todd (Augusta), Incident Management Specialist
- Carrie Winder (Wichita), Incident Management Specialist
- Maymee Zahn (Wichita), Incident Management Shift Leader
- Cris Serviss (Wichita), Toll Collector
5 Years:
- Pamela Anderson (Derby), IT Administrative Assistant
- Ruben Gonzales (Winfield), Toll Collector
- Robin Hamilton (Wellington), Customer Service Representative
- David Heim (Newton), Patrol Administrative Assistant
- Chris Nelson (Viola), Toll Collector
- Tyler Smith (McLouth), Maintenance Carpenter
- Alan Streit (Rossville), Attorney
- Melanie Swartz (Derby), Customer Service Representative
- Carolina Wheeler (Bel Aire), Senior Programmer Analyst
- Danny Conrady (Wellington), Toll Collector
- Merlin Eck (Newton), Safety Coordinator
- Natalie Johnson (Derby), Video Enforcement Systems Team Leader
- Chad Schultz (Ozawkie), Utilities Tradesman
- Susan Wenger (Topeka), Toll Collector
- David Hinde (Cassoday), Equipment Operator
- James Thayer (Mayfield), Toll Collector
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Open road tolling to begin at East Topeka toll plaza
Nov 6, 2018
TOPEKA, Kan.— On November 7, the newly reconstructed Kansas Turnpike toll plaza in east Topeka (I-70/KTA mile marker 183) will transition to an open road method of toll collection. The traffic conversion is expected to take place between midday Tuesday and midday Wednesday, weather permitting. Travelers should pay close attention through the tolling area in East Topeka during this transition.
By midday Wednesday, the following changes should be in place. Changes to this schedule will be communicated on Twitter www.twitter.com/kansasturnpike
Westbound I-70/KTA drivers traveling through the area should expect the following changes:
- Electronic users continue traveling at highway speeds through the toll area.
- Cash travelers exit right to toll plaza for toll payment.
- Electronic drivers going to K-4 will use the far-right K-TAG lane in the cash area.
Eastbound I-70/KTA (entry) drivers have experienced open road tolling since August in a single lane. However, a second highway speed electronic lane will open November 9-13. Electronic customers will stay on the roadway when entering the Turnpike and cash travelers will exit right to receive their entry ticket. Electronic drivers coming from K-4 will use the far-right K-TAG lane in the cash area.
The East Topeka toll plaza has been under construction since October 2017 to convert the toll area to a new style of tolling known as open road tolling. Open road tolling allows highway-speed travel in electronic lanes but still provides a cash option. View this open road tolling video to see how to use the toll plaza.
Drivers should not stop in the electronic lanes. Drivers who forget their cash entry ticket at the East Topeka toll plaza can let their collector know when exiting (or press the help button on a self-pay machine). Drivers who use an electronic lane without a compatible device, such as a K-TAG, will be tolled at the violation rate and receive a mailed violation statement. Information about violations can be found here: https://www.ksturnpike.com/travel/tolls
