Efforts to complete the controversial South Lawrence Trafficway have been given a $1.5 million boost by federal lawmakers.

Sen. Pat Roberts announced this afternoon that he has successfully secured $1.5 million worth of funding to jump start work on the eastern portion of the trafficway, which has been stalled by concerns that the proposed route through the Baker Wetlands would be environmentally damaging and would harm nearby Haskell Indian Nations University.

Roberts called the project “long overdue” and urged the Kansas Department of Transportation and Lawrence and Douglas County officials to use the money to “get the project moving”.

A spokesman with the Kansas Department of Transportation said the department was surprised to learn of the funding and had not included any money in its comprehensive transportation plan to complete the project. It is estimated that about $110 million is needed to complete the bypass project, which would connect Interstate 70 west of Lawrence with Kansas Highway 10 east of Lawrence.

Bob Eye, a Topeka attorney who has represented trafficway opponents, said he was prepared to fight efforts to construct the trafficway. He said the new federal money should be used to explore alternatives to running the road through the wetlands.

In the same transportation bill, Rep. Dennis Moore announced that he successfully added $800,000 to serve as seed money to extend 31st Street east of Haskell Avenue to connect to Kansas Highway 10 near Noria Road. City and county officials have said that extension likely would be necessary even if the trafficway is completed.