KTSRO
TOPEKA, Kan. — Motorists traveling four stretches of highway across Kansas, including one stretching into Harvey County, will now see increased traffic safety messaging and new signage as part of the Safety Corridor Pilot Program.
The Safety Corridor Pilot Program is a five-year initiative to reduce fatalities and serious injuries in four selected safety corridors.
Increased law enforcement, traffic safety education campaigns, low-cost engineering improvements and a review of emergency response issues are part of the comprehensive approach of the program’s goals.
Road users traveling the safety corridors will see new warning signs: “Safety Corridor – Increased Enforcement.” The safety corridors were selected based on a history of fatal and serious injury crashes, availability of additional law enforcement and input from local transportation safety partners.
From 2016 to 2021, over 500 crashes occurred on these corridors resulting in 35 deaths and 68 serious injuries. In early 2023, meetings were held with area traffic safety partners to discuss issues, make recommendations and develop an overall plan. The four corridors include:
- I-135: Sedgwick and Harvey counties, from 53rd Street in Park City to Exit 34 in North Newton.
- U.S. 24: Pottawatomie County, from St. Marys west to Manhattan.
- U.S. 83/50: Finney County, from Plymell north through Garden City and west to the Holcomb exit.
- U.S. 69: Crawford County, from the U.S. 400 junction north through Frontenac and Pittsburg to the U.S. 160 junction.
This Safety Corridor Pilot Program will run until 2028. Secondary educational messages in schools and businesses along the four corridors will be distributed beginning this month.
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