The Kansas Department of Transportation recently awarded 13 projects more than $8.77 million in federal funds through the High Risk Rural Roads Program.
The program aims to enhance safety and reduce crash rates on rural roads. It funds improvements for roads with crash rates that are higher than the statewide average or that have the potential to exceed the average. Funding can be used for pavement markings, rumble strips, tree removal
enhanced signage, and improvements to roadside barriers.
“More than 50 percent of Kansas’ fatal and serious injury crashes happen on the local road system,” Calvin Reed, transportation secretary, said. “The High Risk Rural Roads Program targets funding where it will have the most impact in reducing roadway fatality and serious injury crashes.”
The projects also received nearly $1.4 million in local matching funds.
Awardees include:
Montgomery County was awarded $1.6 million to widen asphalt by three inches and add pavement marking on Buckeye Road from 1450 to the Oklahoma state line.
Ottawa County was awarded $1.2 million for asphalt widening and flattening slopes.
Grant County was awarded $945,000 to add pavement markings and widen asphalt by two inches on Road 21 from K-25 east 4.5 miles.
Pawnee County was awarded $905,000 to add 1-inch aggregate shoulders.