News Releases
Keep up on the latest KTA news by reading our press releases below.
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KTA construction season set to begin in March
Feb 23, 2022
WICHITA, Kan.— The Kansas Turnpike Authority celebrates its engineers on National Engineer’s Week, February 20-26 as they prepare for a new construction season on the Kansas Turnpike.
KTA has slated 15 roadway projects for the 2022 construction season, five of which carry over from the 2021 construction year. The construction season will begin late-February, weather permitting, and projects will begin throughout the spring and summer.
KTA’s 2022 projects, from south to north, include:
- Pavement surfacing from MM 0-13
- Cashless toll zone construction (Contract #1 – MM’s 21.16, 30.52, 36.43, 39.5, 47, & 50)*
- Pavement surfacing from MM 26.8 to MM 50.8*
- Redeck and widen bridges at MMs 41.437, 42.445, 42.85 with a cashless toll zone at MM 43.08
- Remove bridge at 55.507 and construct main street improvements
- Cashless toll zone construction (Contract #2 - MM’s 56.4, 60.6, 68.1, 73.5, 86.6, 95.8, & 122.9)
- Redeck and raise bridge at MM 69.687*
- Structural steel repair on bridge at MM 74.997 North
- Bridge painting (MM 86.637, 99.590, 101.730, 102.260, 122.590, 148.590, 158.963, 169.627)
- Bridge Raising (Round #4* – MM’s 131.23, 139.61, 145.67, 153.12, 154.93, 156.55, & 161.03 Round #5 –MM’s 4.049, 132.992, & 134.893)
- Pavement repair from MM 140 to MM 143
- Redeck and raise bridge at MM 172.477 and drainage improvements at 172*
- Construction of the Topeka administration building
- Cashless toll zone construction (Contract #3 - MM’s 187.5, 191.2, 200.6, 202.4, 206.6, 210.3)
An overview video of KTA’s projects is available at https://youtu.be/GScxzbM1qYM.
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.
*Projects continued from 2021.
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KTA hosts seventh annual design contest for teens
Feb 8, 2022
WICHITA, Kan.— The Kansas Turnpike Authority is seeking submissions from creative students, grades 8-12, for its seventh annual Work Zone Awareness Week design contest.
“We see too many risky driving behaviors from drivers in work zones and it needs to change,” said Eric Becker, KTA Director of Roadway Operations. “Not only is it dangerous for the drivers, but also for our crews working on the roadway. We hope bringing this concern to the public will make people think twice about how they drive through work zones.”
This contest is one of several awareness efforts held in partnership with the Kansas Department of Transportation for National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 11-15. The week aims to raise awareness about fatality prevention while traveling through work zones.
Teen students throughout the state are encouraged to participate. The winner will receive a $200 gift card. Additionally, they will get their art published in VYPE Magazine, a high school sports magazine for south and north central Kansas, including the Wichita and Salina areas.
Entries must meet specific criteria:
- Submission must be submitted online at www.ksturnpike.com/contests by 11:59 p.m. CST, Sunday, March 27, 2022.
- Open to Kansas students, grades 8-12 only
- Art dimensions: 7.5 inches wide by 7.75 inches tall.
- Must be 300 dpi
- Must be in CMYK color format
- Must be original work of the student—no clip art.
- Do not use the KTA or KDOT logo in your design.
- Must be in PDF format (However, art mediums incorporated into the final design may include, but are not limited to, illustration, photography, digital design, etc.)
- Incorporate a work zone safety message. Message can include, but not limited to:
- Work Zone Speed Limits
- Distracted Driving
- Driver/Worker Safety
Those interested in the contest can view details and previous winners at www.ksturnpike.com/contests
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Contracts awarded on upcoming Turnpike projects
Jan 4, 2022
WICHITA, Kan.— The Kansas Turnpike Authority announces bids have been approved and contracts awarded on three upcoming Turnpike projects
Contract 7728 (Construction Manager at Risk) for the construction of the new Topeka administration building was awarded to Hutton Corporation, Wichita, KS for a guaranteed maximum price of $7,628,578.
Contract 7802 for construction of five sets of cashless toll zones from MM 56.4 to 122.9 on I-35/KTA and extension of a 12’x13’ reinforced concrete box drainage structure was awarded to Dondlinger & Sons Construction Company, Inc., Wichita, KS for the bid amount of $6,643,086.81. This work is the second set of cashless tolling zones to be constructed on the Kansas Turnpike for its conversion to cashless tolling in 2024.
Contract 7820 for pavement surfacing from MM 0 to MM 13 on I-35/KTA, including surfacing at the Belle Plaine Service Area was awarded to Koss Construction Co., Topeka, KS for the bid amount of $8,071,641.60.
Construction details will be available closer to the start dates on http://www.ksturnpike.com with updates on this and other projects published monthly in KTA’s electronic newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter using the form at www.ksturnpike.com/communication.
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Customer and audit data affirm KTA’s current and future direction — Toll increase to help replenish reserves for future improvements
Nov 8, 2021
WICHITA, Kan.— The Kansas Turnpike Authority’s recent Fiscal Year 2021 audit along with results of its annual customer satisfaction survey indicate the organization is performing well and its direction continues to meet customer needs.
KTA’s latest annual report shows the organization retained the highest possible bond rating (Aa2) and its net position increased while long-term debt decreased in fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Highlights of its annual customer satisfaction survey include 95% of customers being satisfied with the K-TAG program and 89% satisfied with condition of the roadway.
“By adjusting budget and project timelines, KTA was able to continue modernization efforts identified in its 2015 Long Term Needs Study,” KTA’s CEO Steve Hewitt said. “Having overcome many of the more immediate challenges created by the pandemic, KTA is once again focused on future improvements.”
On February 1, KTA will adjust toll rates to pay for future projects, replenish reserves used during the pandemic and entice additional customers to use K-TAG, KTA’s electronic toll collection program. Tolls will be adjusted in the following ways:
- The majority of customers, those using an electronic transponder to pay for tolls, will see an approximate 2% increase for inflation. Electronic customers can save up to 35% compared to cash tolls.
- Customers continuing to pay tolls with cash or card at the tollbooth will see an approximate 12% increase.
Customers who usually pay at a tollbooth and switch to the K-TAG program can pay less than what they currently pay. For example, a class 2 customer pays $15 at a tollbooth for a trip between KTA’s Southern and Eastern Terminals. Come February 2022, that customer’s toll would decrease to $11.35 with a K-TAG or, if continuing to pay at the tollbooth, increase to $16.75.
Many customers making short-range trips with a K-TAG will not see an increase due to past toll adjustments rounding to the nearest quarter. For example, the electronic toll rate for a passenger vehicle will remain unchanged for trips between K-15/Wichita and Andover (MM 45-57), East Topeka and West Lawrence (MM 183-202), East Wichita/Kellogg and S. El Dorado (MM 53-71).
The Kansas Turnpike receives no tax funding and relies on user-fees (tolls) to pay for operations and maintenance of the roadway.
In the past six years, KTA has invested more than $355 million to preserve, enhance and modernize the roadway based upon customer-feedback. Four years remain in the 10-year Long Term Needs Study plan, including converting the roadway to a cashless system in 2024.
“With 12% of the state’s economy relying on the Turnpike and 79% of drivers being very to completely satisfied with the value received for their toll payment, the Turnpike continues to be an asset to Kansas and its travelers,” said Hewitt. “Even with this toll adjustment, KTA remains one of the lowest tolls per mile in the country.”
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KTA celebrates employee service anniversaries
Nov 5, 2021
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 2021, KTA recognized 57 individuals that collectively have 915 years of service to the KTA.
Employees reaching service anniversaries include:
35 Years:
- Jim Crisler (Wichita), Toll Collector
- Mike Howerton (El Dorado), Senior Equipment Operator
- Barbara Sigley (Augusta), Toll Collector
- Preston Turner (El Dorado), Structures Superintendent
- Doug Walbridge (McLouth), Highway Maintenance Superintendent
- Clint Wichman (Silver Lake), Structures Foreman
30 Years:
- Mike Peterson (El Dorado), Toll Collector
- Mark Roberts (Douglass), Project Coordinator
25 Years:
- Cathy DeKruger (Topeka), Customer Service Representative
- Dallas Gilmore, Trooper
- Dee Jelley (Wichita), Customer Service Representative
- Tim Means (Derby), Computer Systems Administrator
20 Years:
- Jennifer Bledsoe (Carbondale), Toll Collector
- Jay Buckner (El Dorado), Structures Lead
- Mark Christesen, Trooper
- Kale Collins, Trooper
- Corey Davis, Trooper
- Mike Hamilton, Trooper
- Ryan Kufahl, Trooper
- Carley Lucas (Clearwater), Customer Service Representative
- Ryan Mosher, Trooper
- Amber North (Topeka), Assistant Toll Supervisor
- Barbara Ochs (Lawrence), Toll Collector
- Christina Rafols (Tonganoxie), Customer Service Representative
- Janice Rodriguez (Emporia), Toll Collector
- Mary Schaffer (Wellington), Toll Collector
- Tammy Swain (Maple Hill), Assistant Toll Supervisor
- Justin Wallace, Trooper
15 Years:
- Lorraine Bishop (Mulvane), Toll Collector
- Eric Murray, Trooper
- Debbie Overfelt (Wellington), Toll Collector
- Nathan Voss, Trooper
- David Wolgamuth (Wichita), Senior Toll Equipment Technician
10 Years:
- Tracy Bailly (Derby), Part Time Toll Collector
- Brian Boatright (Wichita), Utilities Superintendent
- Stewart Mitchell (Rose Hill), Senior Auto/Truck/Equipment Technician
- Lynda Schultz (Wellington), Toll Supervisor
- James Thayer (Mayfield), Part Time Toll Collector
- Mike Tullis (McLouth), Highway Maintenance Foreman
5 Years:
- Nathan Anstey (Americus), Project Coordinator
- Jeff Burkdoll (Lyndon), Equipment Operator
- Joshua Coffin (McLouth), Project Coordinator
- Kimberly Dana (Augusta), Accounts Receivable Specialist
- Rusty Davenport (Osage City), Highway Maintenance Lead
- Iain Deckard (Wichita), Image Review Manager
- Brian Harvey (Wichita), Roadside Maintenance Worker
- Melody Hawkins (Douglass), Executive Assistant
- Gloria Hildreth (Derby), Accountant
- Ben Leone (Emporia), Part Time Toll Collector
- Melissa Mitchell (Rose Hill), Audit Clerk
- Betty Schrader (Lawrence), Part Time Toll Collector
- Carter Smith (Augusta), Equipment Operator
- James Stauffer (El Dorado), Teller
- Sean Swords, Trooper
- Mitchell Wecker (Allen), Structures Lead
- Caleb Wilson, Trooper
- Daniel Wood (Wichita), Senior Web Developer
