Groundbreaking heralds U.S. Highway 69 expansion

Tammy Helm/Tribune photo Ground was officially broken Monday morning for the U.S. Highway 69 expansion project. Turning the shovels at the ceremony held at Cherry Grove Baptist Church are, from left: Warren Ebberts, KDOT project inspector; George Dockery, KDOT Area Four Engineer; Jacob Grace, Koss Construction; Wayne Gudmonson, KDOT District Four Engineer; Sam Mason, Fort Scott city commissioner; Darrin Petrowsky, KDOT Area One Engineer; Ken Brock, Highway 69 Association; Secretary of Transportation Richard Carlson; Governor Sam Brownback; Sen. Jake LaTurner; Rep. Trevor Jacobs; Sen. Caryn Tyson; Patrick O'Bryan, Pittsburg city commissioner.

After decades of waiting, work to make U.S. Highway 69 four lanes south of Fort Scott to the Crawford County line is expected to begin this week.

A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the occasion was held Monday at Cherry Grove Church located at the intersection of U.S. 69 and Cavalry Road.

The first phase of the project, which would create six miles of a four-lane upgradeable expressway on U.S. 69 from the Bourbon and Crawford County line north six miles and is estimated to cost $25 million.

"And I'm going to do everything I can to see we let the bid for the final four-lanes of this road during my term in office," Gov. Sam Brownback said.

He reminded those in attendance the project was nearly placed on the backburner when in April 2016 due to state budget issues.

A press released issued in June 2016 from Kan. Sen. Jake LaTurner stated LaTurner had been battling with the administration since KDOT delays were announced. He sent a letter to and met with Brownback and has been in continuous contact with administration officials where LaTurner "stressed the importance of the project for reasons of safety and economic development."

"We really hit a rut on our state receipts," Brownback said Monday. "Those are starting to pick back up again. I think we're starting to see the resources come back in."

He said commodities, such as gas and oil, has hurt the state economy, but manufacturing numbers are increasing.

He said at this time, the state will spend "a lot of money" on road maintenance projects, but "not much on new projects."

He said the federal government is talking about an infrastructure expansion plan.