Federal Highway Administration approves Kansas extension review

Graphic provided by GREENE COUNTY

Greene County will start designing the plans for the Kansas Expressway extension to Cox Road. The green portions represent right-of-way areas obtained, while the red is right of way needed to be purchased for the project.

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The Federal Highway Administration approved Greene County’s environmental review of the Kansas Expressway extension project, giving the go-ahead to move forward on design plans.

The federal administration’s “finding of no significant impact” follows a county review of historical and cultural resources, wetlands, noise analyses, habitat assessments and geotechnical surveying, according to a news release.

“This information has been independently evaluated by the (Federal Highway Administration) and determined to adequately and accurately discuss the need, environmental issues and impacts of the proposed project and appropriate mitigation measures,” federal officials concluded in the report.  

With the federal approval, Greene County’s engineers will start working on the design of the project with plans to hold a public meeting later this year to discuss the roadway’s design and construction timeline. Construction is expected to start next year, according to the release.

The $30 million project would extend Kansas Expressway from Republic Road two miles south to connect with Cox Road. The county reportedly only has about 10 percent of right of way left to acquire.

The plans in the works for years have met resistance recently drew organized opposition by the North-South Corridor Alliance, which claims the extension would cause traffic and environmental problems and disrupt established neighborhoods.