Kansas leaders gathered Friday to celebrate the long-awaited groundbreaking of the Polk-Quincy Viaduct replacement project, a major undertaking that promises to improve safety and modernize a crucial stretch of Interstate 70 in downtown Topeka. Governor Laura Kelly, a Topeka resident since 1987, expressed relief that the outdated viaduct would finally be replaced.

"I’ve made a point to detour around the viaduct because 'it scared me to death,'" said Governor Kelly during the groundbreaking ceremony held on the 16th floor of the Townsite Tower. She added that she will be more than willing to drive on the newly rebuilt viaduct once it is completed.

The $239 million project, being managed by Bettis Koss Construction, will replace and realign the aging four-lane segment of I-70 between S.W. Polk and S.E. Quincy streets. Once complete, it will significantly improve the safety and flow of traffic in one of Topeka’s busiest areas.

Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla, who is 76, expressed his excitement about the project’s start, saying, "This is something that I didn’t think I’d see in my lifetime, to be honest with you."

The ceremony took place amid strong winds, with gusts reaching 58 mph, leading to a lighthearted moment when Kansas Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed quipped, "Who’s thankful we’re inside today?" He also jokingly referred to the event as a "kind of a fake groundbreaking, but there will be dirt moving."

The Polk-Quincy Viaduct replacement project has been in the works for many years. Shawnee County Commission Chairman Aaron Mays expressed his joy at seeing it come to fruition: "We’ve been wishing for years that this would happen and it’s nice to finally see it come to fruition."

During the ceremony, local officials turned symbolic shovelfuls of dirt to mark the official start of construction. Mike Rinehart, district engineer for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), also participated in the event.

The project’s main goal is to replace the existing viaduct with a safer, more efficient design. The plan includes rebuilding 2.5 miles of I-70 between S.W. MacVicar Avenue and S.E. 6th Avenue. For much of the 2023 construction season, the focus will be on widening I-70 and constructing the new viaduct. KDOT has stated that I-70 will be shut down for six months in late 2026 and early 2027 to complete the work. The total project is expected to be completed by late 2027.

One challenge the project has faced is acquiring the necessary properties for construction. While KDOT has secured nearly all the properties needed, one building at 124 S.W. Harrison will remain standing because it has been deemed historically significant.

In terms of the design, the new viaduct will consist of two elevated bridges, one for eastbound traffic and one for westbound traffic, both expected to be similar in height to the existing structure.

With the start of construction, Topeka residents and drivers alike can look forward to a safer and more modernized Interstate 70 in the heart of the city.

The project is a critical part of ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure in the region and will benefit both local residents and the broader Kansas transportation network for decades to come.

Originally reported by Tim Hrenchir, Topeka Capital - Journal.