The Franklin-Douglas Counties Coalition of Concerned Citizens said Wednesday it opposed a recommendation to build a new four-lane freeway 300 feet east of the current U.S. Highway 59.

“Given our state’s fiscal crisis, and the need for Highway 59 to be made safe on its current alignment, it seems obvious to us that the best way to serve Franklin and Douglas Counties is to expand the current highway,” coalition spokesperson Caryn Goldberg said.

“Expanding the current highway would save taxpayers millions of dollars, and even more importantly, it would save dozens of lives,” she said. “Building the freeway wouldn’t touch the safety concerns we all have with Highway 59, which would continue to be used extensively as a local highway.”

State and federal highway officials have said the new freeway is the preferred route. The plan would cost $210.3 million to construct and would eliminate 33 homes and eight businesses. Coalition officials say expanding the existing road could be done for $55 million less.

Surveying for the project would begin early next year.

State officials say the road’s accident rate is 25 percent higher than those on similar highways elsewhere in Kansas. Building the freeway would be expected to cut the rate of fatal accidents by 80 percent and trim the injury-accident rate by 60 percent.

Public comments on the proposal should be made by Jan. 24 to Carl Hill, public involvement liaison, Kansas Department of Transportation, Docking State Office Building, Seventh Floor, 915 S.W. Harrison, Topeka 66612.