Today, getting off the Kansas Turnpike and onto U.S. Highway 50 at Emporia might get a little stranger.
The turnpike’s connections to Emporia were scheduled to be rerouted today to allow for construction. The one thing that could put things off now would be rain, said construction manager Tony Menke of the Kansas Department of Transportation.
“We need to get some striping stuff down, so the biggest problem right now is wet pavement,” Menke explained Monday afternoon. “We need to get the pavement to dry so we can get the paint to stick. And if it rains, it’s going to be worse.”
The detours will create a three-point intersection feeding into U.S. 50. As planned:
• U.S Highway 50 eastbound will be narrowed to one lane, starting at about the Americus Road.
• Drivers on Interstate 35, as it leaves the turnpike, will be funneled south instead of driving southeast into town. The detour will connect to U.S. 50 from the north.
• A light at the intersection will flash yellow for U.S. 50 traffic and red for cars joining from I-35.
• No left turns onto U.S. 50 will be allowed for northbound traffic on Overlander Road.
Menke said workers talked about routing traffic onto Industrial Road, but instead set up these detours to keep from hurting nearby businesses.
“We’re trying our best to accomodate them,” he said.
The detours will allow a bridge over Graphic Arts Road to be removed and a roundabout to be built in the area, among other things. The construction is intended to simplify the roadways near the Emporia turnpike entrance.
For now, of course, it may make things just a little more confusing.
“It’s getting more and more interesting,” Menke said.