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Publications iconKansas Register

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Volume 40 - Issue 27 - July 8, 2021

State of Kansas

Department of Transportation

Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment

The City of Topeka Public Works and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announce the availability of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed improvements to I-70 Highway from the MacVicar Avenue interchange to the Adams Street/Branner Trafficway interchange in Topeka, Kansas. The EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to determine the potential environmental, cultural, and socioeconomical impacts. The purpose of the proposed improvements to the I-70 Polk-Quincy Viaduct and surrounding transportation networks is to meet current roadway and bridge design criteria, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards, improve driver and pedestrian safety, increase roadway traffic capacity, balance accessibility, and to support economic development in the downtown Topeka area.

The EA covers the proposed improvements that will reconstruct I-70 to 3-lanes eastbound and westbound from MacVicar Avenue to Topeka Boulevard. Construct split-diamond interchanges between Topeka Boulevard and Kansas Avenue, and 8th Street and 10th Street. Two new viaduct bridges between Topeka Boulevard and Kansas Avenue. New I-70 bridges at 4th Street, 6th Street, 8th Street, 10th Street, and Shunganunga Creek. Reconstruct I-70 from Kansas Avenue to Adams Street. The IKE Transportation Program project funded for final design is the west project beginning at MacVicar and ending at 6th Street.

KDOT is the lead agency under NEPA. FHWA is the lead federal agency. The City of Topeka is a project team member. The EA is required because KDOT will be using federal funds from the Federal Highway Administration to help construct the project.

The EA concludes that no significant impacts to the environment would result, and KDOT is proposing to request a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The Kansas Department of Transportation intends to request a FONSI following a thirty (30) day comment period in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA, Section 1508.13 providing there are no substantive comments that warrant further evaluation. You may view the EA at www.polkquincy.org or in the lobby at the Kansas Department of Transportation Dwight D. Eisenhower State Office Building, 700 SW Harrison Street, Topeka, KS 66603. There will be forms for comments with the hard copy at KDOT. Online comments on the EA should be sent to info@polkquincy.org. Comments will be accepted until July 26, 2021.

David Lutgen, P.E.
Contracts Engineer

Doc. No. 049255

Secretary of State Seal