Wichita officials are waiting to hear more information from the Kansas Department of Transportation on some planned improvements for K-96 from I-135 to the East Kellogg interchange.

The city’s public works director, Gary Janzen, talked to City Council members about the project during a workshop meeting Tuesday.  He said the project will have minimal impact on six park properties along K-96.

• K-96 Lake Park: 0.8 acres out of 46 will be affected by new interchange ramps between K-96 and I135. These areas are currently unused portions of the park with no amenities or other features;
• Chisholm Creek Park North: 1.3 acres out of 57 will be affected by the construction of a new
  interchange at Woodlawn. A portion of this is a gravel parking lot, which will be reconstructed in the
  general vicinity;
• Chisholm Creek Park South: 1.8 acres out of 282 will be affected by a new interchange at
  Woodlawn. The only amenity/feature impacted will be the K-96 Bike Trail (see below);
• K-96 Bike Trail: Out of eight miles of trail length, approximately one-third of a mile will be affected.
  About 580 feet within Chisholm Creek Park South will be temporarily closed and reconstructed due
  to grading work shifting the K-96 east to Woodlawn exit ramp southward. About 1,170 feet located
  east of Webb will be temporarily closed and reconstructed due to constructing the new K-96 east
  entrance ramp from Webb;
• Great Plains Nature Center Path: After the study was completed, it was determined this path will not
  be affected by the Preferred Alternative; and
• Redbud Trail: After the study was completed, it was determined this trail will not be affected by the
  Preferred Alternative.

Janzen said KDOT officials are looking at the schedule for the project and more information is expected the week of October 7th.    The Council is being asked to approve an impact funding for the project, but it was decided to delay that action until their October 15th meeting.