A ceremony to mark the beginning of a $16.1 million transportation project at I-135 & 47th Street South interchange is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28.

In addition to the rebuilding of the interchange, the project will also rebuild the intersection at 47th and Broadway and make improvements on other parts of the 47th Street corridor from Broadway to Lulu.

Hosted by the Kansas Department of Transportation and the City of Wichita, the ceremony will be held in the parking lot of the ABC Rental Superstore at 711 E. 47th St. South. A sign designating the project as a part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will be unveiled after comments by Mayor Carl Brewer, U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari, Kansas Lieutenant Governor Troy Findley and Kansas Secretary of Transportation Deb Miller.

Dondlinger & Sons Construction of Wichita is the lead contractor for the project. Work is expected to begin September 8 and completion is planned for late 2011.

Included in the project is the rebuilding of four bridges on 47th Street, including two over I-135 and two over Big Slough Creek west of the interstate. Ramp improvements will be made at the interchange and traffic signals will be installed at each end of the bridges over the interstate. Access changes to businesses east of Broadway will include a traffic signal at Emporia Street. The Broadway and 47th Street intersection will be improved with two left turn lanes for each direction. Also included are realignment of utilities, improvements to the storm water drainage and installation of a new 12” water line.

The project is one of 12 ARRA transportation projects financed in the Wichita metropolitan area and the first to get started. In addition to the $32.4 million planned for roads, another $8.1 million is slated for transit, rail, aviation and a bicycle/pedestrian trail.

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