The Reno County Commission Tuesday approved a letter of support for continuing development of the K-96 Northwest Passage, which will be sent to a joint legislative transportation task force considering future highway improvement funding. The commission approved a letter to the Joint Legislative Transportation Vision Task Force – which was requested by the Hutchinson /Reno County Chamber of Commerce and drafted by Meagher – that indicates the county’s continued support for the project which would build a new super-two highway from Hutchinson northwest to Lyons, and eventually Interstate-70.
The project, which would have exits for Nickerson and Sterling, but otherwise route the highway outside those communities, was initially part of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s last 10-year plan, but it got bumped after lawmakers repeatedly swept highway dollars to cover budget shortfalls.
The state has purchased the necessary right-of-way for the corridor between Hutchinson and Lyons, Public Works Director Dave McComb advised the commission, but the design isn’t done and no dollars have been authorized for construction.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)