News Releases

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 85^th Street bridge over the Turnpike.

2018 Construction Update News Release

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

2018 Service Awards News Release

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

East Topeka Open Road Tolling News Release

Kansas teens share powerful messages via video

Oct 19, 2018

WICHITA, Kan.— In celebration of National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 21-27, the Kansas Turnpike Authority shares three winning videos from their recent Put the Brakes on Fatalities video contest. The videos were created by Kansas teens to raise awareness about dangerous driving habits. Finalist’s videos can be viewed online.

The winning videos were made by Andrew Marshall Tabb from Shawnee Mission West High School, Cardinal Productions from Eudora High School and students from Lawrence High School.

“We were highly impressed by the quality of videos submitted for the contest this year,” said Rachel Bell, KTA Director of Business Services & Customer Relations. “They have improved each year, and we look forward to continue seeing more growth and powerful safety messages from our Kansas teens in future contests.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, vehicular crashes are the number one cause of death for teens ages 15-18. Parents are highly encouraged to talk with their teen about safe driving practices, including seat belt usage and distracted driving. 

2018 Teen Driver Safety Week News Release

Reconstruction of toll plaza begins September 17

Sep 14, 2018

WELLINGTON, Kan. – A project to convert the Southern Terminal Toll Plaza located in Sumner county at mile marker 16.5 I-35/KTA to open road tolling will begin with the reconstruction (and temporary closing of) the 30^th Street South Bridge over the Turnpike on September 17, 2018.

Construction will involve building new northbound cash lanes east of the existing lanes and new highway speed electronic lanes for both north and southbound traffic. Included in the project is reconstruction of two bridges crossing I-35/KTA – the 30^th Street South Bridge (mile marker 17) followed by the 40^th Street South Bridge (mile marker 16).

The Turnpike will be using Smart Work Zone technology to provide advanced notice of slowed or stopped traffic to travelers approaching the construction zone. The speed limit approaching the project will be reduced to 55 mph with further reductions, as posted, through the toll plaza itself. Drivers are encouraged to stay alert and avoid distractions within the work zone.

Open road tolling is a method of toll collection which allows electronic customers who have K-TAGs or other compatible transponders to move through the toll plaza at highway speeds. Travelers who prefer to pay with cash can slow and pull to the right, well out of way of highway traffic. (View a video simulation here.)

The project contract was awarded to Venture Corporation, Great Bend, KS for $15,265,817.43 in August 2018. This is the third of three mainline toll plazas being converted to open road tolling. Eastern Terminal, just west of Kansas City, was completed in 2017 and construction of the East Topeka toll plaza is scheduled for completion later this fall.

To stay up-to-date on the project and future travel impacts, drivers are urged to check KanDrive 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. Construction updates on this and other projects are published monthly in KTA’s electronic newsletter. Sign up here: http://bit.ly/1rfcIVx ​​​​​​

Southern Terminal Begins News Release