The Kansas Department of Transportation will have a series of open houses to talk about revisions to a long-range plan for K-254, from Wichita to El Dorado.

KDOT hosted a public meeting in Benton on May 22nd to get input on the K-254 Corridor Management Plan.   Some revisions have been made that include a new interchange option around Towanda, updated information on possible Restricted Crossing U-Turns, and possible frontage roads along the corridor.

RCUT intersections are used mainly on four-lane divided highways, and they re-route left-turn and through vehicles from the side road. Besides allowing for more efficient traffic movement, RCUTs can reduce the number of conflict points where crashes could occur by up to 50% and can reduce right angle crashes by up to 75%. They also often limit the severity of crashes.

The open houses will be held at the following dates and locations:

• Tuesday, July 30, from 6 to 7 p.m.
  • Benton City Hall in Benton, 154 S. Main St.

• Wednesday, July 31, from 6 to 7 p.m.
  • Kansas Highway Patrol Troop F office in Kechi, 1900 E. Tigua St.

• Thursday, Aug. 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Wilbur Wiens Community Building in Towanda, 315 Main St

•       Thursday, Aug. 1, from 6 to 7 p.m.
• • Wilbur Wiens Community Building in Towanda, 315 Main St.

KDOT staff will be available to answer questions and take comments.  There will be no formal presentations and people can drop by at any time during the open houses. The comments from the open houses will be used to finalize the K-254 plan later this summer.

Information presented at the open houses will also be available online by July 30 at: ike.ksdot.gov/k-254-corridor

The K-254 plan is a strategic effort to anticipate future land development and provide access that serves the communities while keeping traffic moving efficiently and safely.