23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Journals
KDOT targets 2026 debut for 69 Express project
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The $572 million project will add a toll lane in each direction along U.S. Highway 69 in Overland Park.
Story Highlights Kansas' first express toll lane project is finishing construction.
U.S. 69 will add toll lanes between 103rd and 151st Streets in Overland Park.
Toll fees will be collected electronically using the KTAG system.
The Kansas Department of Transportation is close to finishing work on the state's first express toll lane project in Overland Park.
The U.S. 69 Corridor Modernization and Expansion project, commonly referred to as 69 Express, completely rebuilds the four-lane U.S. Highway 69 by adding a toll lane in each direction between 103rd and 151st Streets.
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Construction on the $572 million project is on track to be substantially complete by the end of the year, said 69 Express Project Director Steve Rockers. The new toll lanes are expected to be operational by January.
How it works
A double white line will separate the toll lane on the far left from the two existing general purpose lanes, which will remain free.
'There will be no physical separation between the express lanes and the general purpose lanes. There will be cameras out there strategically located along the corridor watching traffic,' Rockers said.
Similar to the Kansas Turnpike, the 69 Express toll lanes will not have toll booths. Instead, toll fees will be collected electronically using a KTAG issued by the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
Drivers will continue to access U.S. 69 as they do now and access the express lanes at dedicated entry points along the corridor. Southbound traffic can enter the express lane at 103rd Street with the option to exit at 135th Street or continue to the end of the toll lane at 151st Street.
Northbound drivers will enter the toll lane just north of 151st Street with the option to exit at Blue Valley Parkway, 119th Street, College Boulevard and Interstate 435 before reaching the end of the express lane at 103rd Street.
The cost will vary based on the time, how far a driver is traveling and the density of traffic, Rockers said. Prices for the toll lanes are estimated to range from about $0.50 to $1.50 a trip.
'There will be signs over the express lanes telling people what the price is going to be if they use a KTAG,' Rockers said.
What's left
Construction crews logged 525,000 work hours on the site in 2024, and 500,000 yards of concrete have been poured, Rockers said.
In addition to widening the highway from four to six lanes, the project requires KDOT to build 25 bridges throughout the corridor. As of April 10, crews had completed work on 22 of the bridges, with three left to go. About 60% of work is complete on 11 noise walls from 119th to 151st Street, Rockers said.
'Bridge construction is more than 80% complete, and pavement is about the same,' Rockers said.
The project is being built through a joint venture between Ames Construction and Emery Sapp Construction Inc. KDOT also is working with HNTB Corp. as project manager. Lenexa-based GBA is part of the lead design team.
The project ranks No. 3 on the Kansas City Business Journal's List of largest area construction projects.
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U.S. 69 Expansion Project (69Express) View this list
