Kansas sheriff concerned about upcoming I-70 closure for bridge removal

A Kansas sheriff has expressed safety concerns about an I-70 closure planned for early September.

Starting at 4 a.m. on September 4, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will fully close a stretch of I-70 for about 24 hours to allow crews to remove the 150 Avenue bridge over I-70 in Trego County.

The bridge has been closed since March 2024 “after it was struck multiple times by above-height loads.”

KDOT will close the following portions I-70:

• Westbound lanes from Exits 115 to 128 (Collyer to WaKeeney)
• Eastbound lanes from Exits 95 to 120 (Grainfield to Voda Road)

KDOT’s signed detour will instruct drivers to use K-23, U.S. 24 and U.S. 283.

The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Department (SCSO) has expressed safety concerns about pushing traffic off of I-70 through small towns during the closure.

Specifically, SCSO outlined the following objections to KDOT’s I-70 closure and detour plans:

• K-23 Concerns: K-23 is a narrow highway with no shoulders and numerous hills, which makes it unsuitable for heavy traffic.
• Business Impact:This detour will congest the business district of Hoxie and impact businesses along U24 on Oak Avenue.
• School Safety: We expressed concerns about children crossing streets and the need to provide staff at crossings on Oak and Main Street. Which luckily USD 412 is working with us to close school on this day.
• Emergency Response Delays: The expected congestion, particularly at the K-23/U24 junction (where KDOT will have staff providing traffic control), will likely cause delays in emergency responses, and travel.
• Wide Loads: No wide loads will be allowed to travel north or south (south of Hoxie) on K-23 on September 4th.