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ESS breaks ground on $170.5-million K-10/South Lawrence Trafficway project
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for phase two of the highly anticipated K-10/South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT) in Douglas County. Attendees included County Commissioner Karen Willey, Representative Mike Amyx, KDOT Secretary Calvin Reed, Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) Co-CEO Robert Gillis, and other dignitaries.
The K-10/SLT is a vital corridor serving the local community and region. Construction will be completed in two phases, south (6th Street to U.S. 59) and north (north of 6th Street to I-70). The groundbreaking ceremony marked the commencement of the south phase.
In July, KDOT awarded ESS the contract for the south phase of the project. ESS submitted a bid of $170,597,911 to upgrade the K-10/SLT from a two-lane road to a median-divided, four-lane highway with new interchanges.
This project will improve safety and ease traffic on the K-10/SLT and nearby highways. Reconstruction of the corridor to four lanes will alleviate strain on surrounding streets throughout the City of Lawrence. Completion of the south phase has been highly anticipated by the community after the concept study began in 2014.
ESS has a history of construction for the K-10/SLT, working as the general contractor on the eastern section of the K-10 Bypass that was completed in 2016. Then, construction consisted of a new, six-mile stretch of a four-lane freeway and the creation of more than 300 acres of new wetlands, alleviating congestion on the streets of Lawrence and creating a southern bypass loop around the city. At the time, the $138-million freeway was the largest single project in KDOT’s history.
The second section of the K-10/SLT will pick up where it had left off in 2016. There will be 7.6 miles of reconstruction. The scope of work includes but is not limited to grading and excavation, concrete paving, and construction of eight new bridges.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with KDOT on the South Lawrence Trafficway,” said Robert Gillis, ESS Co-CEO. “The first phase was a significant milestone in Kansas’ and our company’s history, so we are honored to get back to work in Lawrence continuing that legacy.”
Construction is expected to be completed in 2028. Traffic disruption will be minimal with K-10 to remain open to traffic throughout the project.
KDOT will host a public information meeting on October 9. For more information visit slt-ks.ksdot.gov
