Johnson County Gateway completion celebrated with ribbon cutting

The ribbon was officially cut yesterday on the mega Johnson County Gateway project by distinguished event speakers (from left to right in photo above):  

KDOT Acting Secretary Richard Carlson; Kansas Governor Sam Brownback; Kansas Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer; FHWA Deputy Administrator David Kim;  

Johnson County Commissioner Ed Eilert; City of Lenexa Mayor Mike Boehm; City of Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland; and Gateway Interchange Constructors Bill Clarkson

The large, complex Johnson County Gateway project, expected to fully open early next week, was celebrated by local, state and federal officials yesterday in Lenexa.

The ribbon-cutting at Crowne Plaza Hotel marked the substantial completion of Kansas’ first design-build project. The $288 million Gateway has been under construction for 2½ years at the convergence of Interstates 35 and 435 and K-10.

“The Gateway project will be a means of improved travel for tens of thousands of commuters. With the addition of 56 new highway lane miles and more than 27 new and rehabbed bridges, the project provides a conduit for increased economic development, safe travel and the movement of freight,” said Gov. Sam Brownback.

More than 150 people were in attendance to celebrate the completion of KDOT's first design-build project.
The Johnson County Gateway is set to open early next week to travelers. 

The Gateway is the state’s first major design-build project, a construction method authorized under the T-WORKS transportation program. Under this approach, the design-build team works under a single contract with the project owner to provide design and construction services. This differs from the traditional design-bid-build method.

KDOT, along with the project management consultant team from HNTB, worked with Gateway Interchange Constructors, the design-builders who constructed the complex expansion project. GIC is a joint venture led by Kansas City, Mo.-based Clarkson Construction Co., which partnered with Kiewit Infrastructure Co. Additional key members of the team included design firms HDR Engineering and George Butler Associates.

“The design-build contracting approach allows states to deliver projects more quickly and more cost-effectively,” FHWA Deputy Administrator David S. Kim said. “Through our Every Day Counts initiative, the FHWA encourages innovations such as design build that save time and money for U.S. taxpayers.” 

More than 230,000 vehicles travel the Gateway corridor daily.

“With the number of vehicles expected to grow to 380,000 by 2040, drivers will now experience commutes with improved efficiency, decreased travel delays and safer travel through the I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Richard Carlson.

For some highlights from yesterday's event check out this video:

For more information, visit the project website: jocogateway.com and check out the video below for a closer look at this mega project.