News Releases
Keep up on the latest KTA news by reading our press releases below.
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State Farm® Safety Assist program aids more than 1,400 travelers
Sep 25, 2019
WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas Turnpike Authority’s State Farm Safety Assist program had a busy summer season. During the 2019 summer, over 1,400 travelers were assisted.
The summer program, which runs from Wichita to the Oklahoma border, has come to an end for the 2019 season. The program runs year-long in the most heavily traveled corridor of the Turnpike, from Topeka to Kansas City. The State Farm Safety Assist technicians travel the Turnpike aiding drivers with roadway incidents, looking for debris on the road and assisting with crashes and other traffic incidents.
“Tire changes and providing other mechanical assistance were two of the top three reasons for services provided by the technicians,” said Jason Weber, KTA Roadway Operations Manager. “We’re glad to have this program as an extra layer of customer service during the busy summer months, and year-round on our northern end.”
For more information about the State Farm Safety Assist Program, visit http://bit.ly/2bbXNAa
State Farm® Safety Assist program aids more than 1,400 travelers
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KTA and BancPass to offer cash-preferred electronic option
Sep 16, 2019
WICHITA, Kan.— The Kansas Turnpike Authority and BancPass, Inc. have partnered to offer travelers a cash reloadable, pre-paid toll sticker program: BancPass powered by K-TAG. Through this joint effort, customers will be able to purchase a BancPass powered by K-TAG starter kit from select retail locations. Visit www.Bancpass.com to learn more.
“We recognize the need for customers who prefer to use cash to take advantage of the discount for electronic travelers,” said Steve Hewitt, KTA Chief Executive Officer. “With the BancPass pre-paid program, those cash customers have a way to get up to 25% discount on their tolls.”
The BancPass powered by K-TAG starter kits will cost $20 and include a sticker toll transponder, $10 in tolls, a reload card and further instructions for mounting and registering the account. Customers will be able to replenish their account with cash at select retail locations, or through the BancPass app or website. See how the program works in this short BancPass video.
Shannon Swank, Chief Marketing Officer for BancPass stated, “We are delighted to be working with the Kansas Turnpike Authority as they focus efforts to provide toll payment solutions for all type of users. This program provides a great option for customers who prefer to pay for tolls using cash or, would like to manage when and how much they reload their accounts.”
BancPass first launched the Pay As You Go program in 2015 through the Harris County Toll Road Authority in Houston, TX. Since then, the program has expanded into other cities in Texas and now Kansas.
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KTA celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with new truck parking system
Sep 12, 2019
WICHITA, Kan.— The Kansas Turnpike Authority will unveil a new Truck Parking Information Management System on September 12 in conjunction with National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 8-14.
“KTA plays an important role in the industry,” said Steve Hewitt, KTA Chief Executive Officer. “We serve as a connector between Kansas’ three biggest cities, so it’s important to let our travelers know about the improvements made to enhance their experience on the Kansas Turnpike.”
In addition to the new truck parking management system, KTA has made several modernization and safety improvements for commercial travelers. Efforts include highway speed electronic lanes, increasing the vertical clearance of overhead bridges, and lengthening acceleration and deceleration ramps.
KTA celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with new truck parking system
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Contracts awarded on upcoming construction projects
Aug 2, 2019
WICHITA, Kan. – The Kansas Turnpike Authority announces bids approved and contracts awarded on two upcoming Turnpike construction projects.
Contract #7579 – Painting six bridges, to protect and preserve their structural steel, located between mile markers 3 and 21 on I-35/KTA in Sumner county was awarded to Linder Painting, Inc., Lincoln, NB for $208,290.00. Details will be available closer to the start date.
Contract #7526 – A project for concrete pavement repairs on port of entry (weigh station) ramps at mile marker 1.7 northbound I-35/KTA in Sumner County was awarded to Vogts Parga Construction, LLC., Newton, KS, for $112,249.03. Work is expected to begin in August and be completed mid-November, weather permitting.
Details will be available closer to the start dates on www.ksturnpike.com with impacts to traffic posted on 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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Emporia Area Improvements News Release
Jul 26, 2019
EMPORIA, Kan. – A two-year project for various improvements in Chase and Lyon counties on I-35/KTA and I-335/KTA is set to begin August 1, 2019, weather permitting. Construction includes:
- Pavement mill and inlay (mile marker 112.3-133.2);
- Replacing expansion joins on northbound and southbound bridges at the Cottonwood River (mile markers 124.68 and 125.22);
- Ramp and parking improvements at the Emporia service area (mile marker 132);
- Drainage improvements (mile marker 132.2).
Construction for 2019 includes work on the southbound bridges and paving from mile markers 112.3 to the bridges. This work is expected to be complete in late November, weather permitting. In 2020, construction will take place on the northbound bridges in addition to the drainage improvements and Emporia service area work. Paving the bridges through mile marker 132.2 will complete the project.
In late-August, all traffic will begin using the northbound lanes of I-35/KTA at the river bridges, where there will be a single, 12-foot lane of traffic in each direction. Single lane closures will also be in place, south of the river bridges, to accommodate paving. Speed will be reduced to 65 mph through the construction zone.
Drivers are urged to check for traffic impacts at www.KanDrive.org, subscribe to KTA Alerts for roadway incident information http://bit.ly/KHeX6g, follow the Kansas Turnpike on Twitter, and watch for information on KTA’s digital message signs. 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.
This contract was awarded to Cornjeo & Sons, LLC., Wichita, KS, for $15,309,973.20 in June 2019.
