Area Lawmakers Seek US 160 upgrade

[genealogynut]

Taken from the Good News Community Newspaper, dated January 24, 2007


TOPEKA--Four area lawmakers have asked the Kansas Department of Transportation to make installation of shoulders along US 160 between Independence and Winfield a priority.

The request was made today by Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, Senator Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, Representative Jeff King, R-Independence, and Representative Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield.

"This is a dangerous highway" the legislators wrote in a letter to Transportation Secretary Deb Miller.  "The principal problem is the portion of the highway in Elk County, which has no shoulders and a sharp and high drop-off at the edge of the pavement because of multiple overlays."

During the five years between 2001 and 2005, 490 accidents occurred on US 160 between Independence and Winfield, killing 10 people and injuring 90 others, according to KDOT data.  The road has a higher accident rate than other similar roads in Kansas, and the rate of fatal accidents in almost two and one-half times the state wide average for similar types.

"Our hope is that this project can yet be added under the current highway bill if funds are available at the end of the program," the legislatures wrote, noting that KDOT in recent years has replaced several bridges on this stretch of highway.  "We believe the addition of shoulders, without undertaking other costly changes to the geometry of the highway would complete the significant and much-needed safety improvements to this road and should be an affordable approach."

Area citizens who support the addition of shoulders to US 160, particularly in Elk County, may wish to write with their support to: Secretary Deb Miller, Department of Transportation, Eisenhower State Office Building, 700 SW Harrison St., Topeka, Kansas  66603-3754.

[Janet Harrington]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I hope they succeed.

[Wilma]

It's a start anyway.  I hope it happens.