Sedgwick County leaders are voicing concern for the future of a project to build a Northwest Bypass.

The project has been the focus of discussions and planning efforts for more than a decade.  It would connect Highway 54 at Goddard with K-96 at Maize, and the county has argued that this highway will be needed to manage overall congestion in the community in the future.   The project has received environmental clearance and it’s expected to cost over $519 to build, although no funds have been committed.

County Commissioner David Dennis said a meeting was held recently with Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed, and he said Reed is not looking to conduct a feasibility study on the project at this time.  He said the City of Wichita and the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization are also not supporting the project, but officials in Goddard and Maize are concerned about its future.  Dennis said the county has committed $100,000 in its 2025 budget for a study, and it’s time to put political pressure on KDOT to move the project forward.    He said the project will be needed when the Canal Route (I-135) has to be rebuilt, and that project will create a logjam for transportation in the area.

County Commission Chairman Ryan Baty said the county has invested $9 million in a fund for the project and the state has matched that amount, and over 40 percent of the needed right of way has been purchased.   He said it’s not acceptable or responsible to delay this project, and there should be some strategic direction on the project.

The City of Wichita issued a statement to KFDI’s news partners at KWCH, saying “We appreciate the partnership with county and KDOT and are happy to have conversations on the Northwest Expressway but this has never come before council. During the budget session, council did allocate $5,000 toward the Northwest Bypass, but otherwise we have not been presented with any information or anything to vote on.”