Douglas County Commissioners are expected to approve a contract Wednesday clearing the way for construction of a new interchange at the South Lawrence Trafficway and Bob Billings Parkway.

The three-party contract with the Kansas Department of Transportation and the city of Lawrence calls for the county to pay $528,000 toward the total estimated cost of $17.2 million. Lawrence’s share of the cost will be $1 million.

The new interchange will be in an area on the city’s western fringe that is already slated for new residential and commercial development. Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in March 2014.

The commission meets at 6:35 p.m. in the county courthouse.

Also during that meeting, commissioners will consider renewing a conditional use permit for a private landing strip on property in southwest Douglas County owned by Robert and Angela Murray.

According to county documents, the airstrip was first approved in 2002 and was in use until the permit expired earlier this year.

In other business, commissioners will:

• Consider the appointment of members to the Douglas County Emergency Management Board and consider nominations of members to the State Emergency Response Commission.

• Consider an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for the joint purchase of asphalt paving equipment.

• Consider granting staff approval to work through the Government Finance Officers Association to solicit proposals and select a vendor for a new financial management software system for the county.