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.
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