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Where will roads take Tonganoxie?

By Staff | Oct 20, 1999

Tonganoxie can expect to be directly affected by decisions made in the next few years concerning the future of U.S. Highway 24-40, from Tonganoxie west to Topeka.

Now another proposal has shown up, concerning a recommendation from the Kansas Turnpike Authority to construct an interchange at Leavenworth County Road One and U.S. Interstate 70.

This proposal is accompanied by a recommendation from Leavenworth Area Development (LAD) that the Leavenworth County Commission seek Kansas Department of Transportation System Enhancement Funding for a new, enhanced 2-lane County Road One, from Kansas Highway 32 to I-70, with the name of County Road One changed to K-32.

An alternative to that change, according to LAD Director Gary Carlson, would be improving County Road One to a 4-lane road, from I-70 to K-16, and changing that section of County Road One’s name to U.S. 24-40.

According to Carlson, an interchange at County Road One and I-70 would support the current development growth in Leavenworth County, and “more directly in Tonganoxie, Linwood and Basehor.” He suggested it would be more desirable than improving the existing U.S. 24-40 and moving its path from Tonganoxie west to Perry, and provide a more cost-effective means of moving traffic.

We have already experienced the trend toward complaining about growth and development after the fact, here in our home town. Change is rarely an easy pill to swallow, in spite of its benefits.

We feel strongly that the more participation area residents have in the initial stages of development and change, the better it is accepted and the better that change fits our town. Get involved early and stay involved. There are meetings, people to talk to and ideas to be discussed.

Change is coming. Be a part of it and feel better about the end results. Your city council and the Leavenworth County Commissioners are a good place to start.