Kansas Department of Transportation logo for K-10 West Leg South Lawrence Trafficway Study

Lawrence and Douglas County commissioners have agreed to send suggestions to the Kansas Department of Transportation about plans for major changes to the west leg of Kansas Highway 10.

Their recommendations include keeping open the Clinton Parkway/K-10 interchange — something planners have suggested doing away with — and maintaining access, free of tolls, from K-10 to Route 438, known as the “Farmers Turnpike.”

The drafted letter also urges KDOT to make the expansion a priority, stating the completion of the four-lane South Lawrence Trafficway may cause problems with traffic volumes and safety on the western leg of two-lane K-10.

The eastern leg of the SLT is estimated to be complete in fall 2016.

“One of the things is, it’s a four-lane, 70 mph roadway that is going to go into a two-lane road,” Mayor Mike Amyx said. “I think it is smart in looking at upgrades there.”

The City Commission approved the recommendations — which had already been OK’d by county commissioners — at its meeting Tuesday. Their approval allows Amyx to sign the letter along with Jim Flory, chairman of the Douglas County Commission.

Amyx said it was “extremely important” that the city and county present a united front.

“We have received a lot of public comment about these items,” Amyx said. “Let’s face it, as we look at the items listed in the letter we have going, they’re important to our community and county. We believe that a strong statement from the both of us gives us that opportunity to express our feelings.”

According to a preliminary proposal, the long-term goal is to improve K-10 to the standards of a four-lane freeway from the Kansas Turnpike interchange west of Lawrence to the U.S. Highway 59 interchange to the south, offering a seamless connection between I-70 and Interstate 435 in the Kansas City area.

KDOT officials want to complete a concept study report in December, but there is no set timeline for the project. Officials told city commissioners at a September meeting it may take years before KDOT has the funding for the changes.

KDOT has provided a list of alternatives for major points of the project, all of which the city and county address in their recommendations.

The option commissioners suggested for the link between K-10, I-70 and the Farmer’s Turnpike was creating a system-to-system interchange, allowing for free-flow movement between K-10 and I-70.

As is, that option calls for implementing tolls, but commissioners want it to remain toll-free.

“It just absolutely should remain toll-free,” Amyx said. “Talking with people in the Lecompton area, it only makes sense.”

According to a KDOT proposal, the system-by-system interchange is more expensive and complex than the other option, which calls for creating a separate interchange at Lecompton Road where Farmers Turnpike could be accessed.

Those traveling from Lecompton to K-10 would use I-70 or other local roads, the proposal states.

With the Clinton Parkway interchange, commissioners wanted to keep it open out of concern that — if it were closed — heavy traffic would be pushed onto Bob Billings Parkway, Amyx said.

The city received a petition Oct. 19 from Warren Corman, president of the Quail Pointe at Alvamar neighborhood, stating he and other representatives from more than a dozen homeowners associations and neighborhoods came together to oppose clogging the Clinton Parkway interchange.

Bob Billings Parkway is already “unnecessarily dangerous,” the letter states, and increased traffic on the street would “exacerbate the existing dangerous conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicle drivers.”

City and county commissioners also suggested closing the Kasold Drive/East 1200 Road intersection; creating a new K-10 interchange east of Wakarusa; and having K-10 fly over Wakarusa.

KDOT is hosting an informational open house Oct. 29 to present the preferred alternatives and receive feedback. The meeting is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. at the Southwest Middle School cafeteria, 2511 Inverness Drive.

Planners will then review comments from the meeting and perform necessary technical analysis needed to complete a concept study report.