By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Five area cities will benefit from more than $23 million in street and highway projects from the state.
Hutchinson will get $300,000 in City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP) funding to help resurface a portion of K-61 Highway within the city limits. Newton will also get $300,000 to help renovate the portion of K-15 through the city. A portion of US-81 through the city of McPherson will also receive a $300,000 infusion of funds. Lyons will get $300,000 to do renovations on US-56 and Kingman will get $1 million to renovate US-54 through that community.
The money to Hutchinson will go to mill and overlay the northbound lanes of K-61 from US-50 north to G Avenue and to chip seal the shoulders of K-61 from US-50 north to 17th Avenue. The city's share of the grant is about $45,000.
Highway Infrastructure Program funds coming to Kansas enabled this round of CCLIP funds to increase from $18 million to $23 million for use in fiscal years 2022-2024. A City Connecting Link is any routing of the State Highway System located within the corporate limits of a city.
Hutchinson has used connecting link funds in the past to make major renovations to K-61 within the city. Under the connecting link grant program, a city is required to contribute up to 25 percent of the project cost based on its population, though some cities contribute significantly more. Cities under 2,500 in population are not required to provide a match.
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