Olathe, KS, to include bicycle facilities on new overpass

The Kansas City Star reports that Olathe, KS, has been gathering grants and funding for a new overpass over I-35 at 127th Street. The new overpass will not include ramps onto I-35. The new overpass will probably be built 2004-2005. The Star reports:

The latest piece [of funding] is an $840,000 grant from the Mid-America Regional Council announced Monday. That money will be used to expand the six-lane overpass to add a 10-foot-wide bicycle/pedestrian lane. The lane will link trails on the east and west sides of I-35.

"That will hopefully pull bike traffic off 119th and 135th streets," said Merv Gleason, public works program coordinator.

Olathe is also planning a 3.1-mile trail, the "Mahaffie Pedestrian and Bike Trail", that will go north from Olathe North High School. Plans are for the trail to be completed by Spring 2003.