Governor visits to announce 69 expansion

Gov. Sam Brownback announced Thursday morning in Arma that the section of U.S. Highway 69 south of Fort Scott to Arma will complete the four-lane connection between Kansas City and Pittsburg that is hoped to bring economic development and provide a safer highway for the area. (Related photo, page 10) (Loretta George/Tribune)

ARMA -- The goal of a four-lane highway the entire length of U.S. Highway 69 between Kansas City and Pittsburg was announced Thursday.

The six-mile project on U.S. 69 known as the "Arma Connection" was announced by Gov. Sam Brownback during a special event in Arma.

"When I first ran for governor I promised to make a four-lane highway from Kansas City to Pittsburg," Brownback told the small crowd gathered near Hwy. 69 north of the Dollar General Store in Arma.

"We are keeping that promise," with the "Arma Connection", he said.

The main goal of the U.S. 69 corridor is to help the area "prosper and be safe," he said.

"Summer 2017 is the start date for the project for the 11-mile stretch south of Fort Scott," Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Secretary Mike King said. "We'll add this project on with it."

The project should be completed by fall 2019, he added.

The project, which will be constructed for an estimated $23.5 million, will tie into two previously-announced projects that will expand nearly 12 miles of the highway in southern Bourbon and northern Crawford counties, accord to a KDOT press release. All three projects, which will be constructed for a combined cost of $70.5 million, are part of the T-WORKS transportation program.

U.S. 69 is a major eastern Kansas route for local traffic, commerce and hundreds of students from the Kansas City area who attend Pittsburg State University, according to the KDOT press release. Long stretches of the highway were expanded from two to four lanes under two earlier transportation programs beginning in 1989.

Other speakers at the governor's announcement event were King; 13th District Senator Jacob LaTurner, who is on the senate transportation committee; Names and Numbers Chief Executive Officer Ken Brock, who is on the U.S. Hwy. 69 Association and Midwest Minerals Chief Executive Officer Steve Sloan, representing the contractors for the project.

There were three placard-carrying protestors present at the event who said they were unhappy with Gov. Brownback's policies (see photo on page 10).