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TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has awarded the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) a nearly $98 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to improve the I-35 and Santa Fe Street corridor in Olathe.
“This announcement is a win for Kansas and everyone who travels I-35 through Olathe,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This project represents my administration’s work to modernize and strengthen the infrastructure and transportation links that support commerce and economic growth across the state.”
The I-35 Santa Fe Forward project, which targets one of the region’s most congested corridors, seeks to eliminate bottlenecks at two interchanges: Santa Fe Street and Old Highway 56, address access management issues on Santa Fe Street, replace aging infrastructure, and provide multimodal access across I-35 to connect communities on both sides of the interstate. Currently, the crash rate on I-35 surrounding the Santa Fe interchange is more than two and half times the state’s average, with nearly half of all crashes consisting of rear-end crashes at lower rates of speed.
INFRA, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a competitive grant program supporting multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of transportation for freight and people in and across rural and urban areas. The grant application was submitted by KDOT in partnership with the City of Olathe.
Governor Kelly sent letters to the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of this project.
“Since coming to Congress, I’ve made it a priority to advocate for our community’s local infrastructure needs,” said Representative Sharice Davids, KS-03. “That’s why I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law. This law creates good-paying jobs, strengthens our supply chains, helps lower costs, and will make our roads more efficient and dependable. I’m thrilled to see these funds coming to Kansas with the I-35 Santa Fe Forward project and investing in improvements that our region will see for generations.”
“We are grateful to our federal and local partners who have been working with KDOT to move this project forward,” Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed said. “With this funding, we can tackle important infrastructure improvements that will enhance efficiency and connectivity, providing smoother travel for residents and businesses across the region.”
Construction on the I-35 and Santa Fe Street corridor between Ridgeview Road and Mur-Len Road is scheduled to begin in late 2026 with a total project cost of nearly $278 million. The City of Olathe is contributing $40 million. KDOT will contribute $140 million through the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation (IKE) Program, a 10-year program that addresses highways, bridges, public transit, aviation, short-line rail, and bike/pedestrian needs across Kansas.
“The new I-35 and Santa Fe interchange wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of KDOT and the leadership shown by our congressional delegation, including Sen. Jerry Moran, Sen. Roger Marshall, and Rep. Sharice Davids,” Olathe Mayor John Bacon said. “We are grateful for the support of our partners and for their understanding of just how important this project is to Olathe and to the region.”
More information on the KDOT IKE Program can be found here: https://ike.ksdot.gov/.
For additional details on the U.S. DOT Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Program, visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/infra-grant-program.