Rapid economic growth and the construction of a new Panasonic Energy electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility are driving the need to expand local roadway networks in De Soto, Kansas. We are partnered with KDOT to lead engineering, environmental and project management services to relieve congestion, enhance safety and promote future growth along a segment of the city’s industrial thoroughfare.
The project will expand 4 miles of 103rd Street and a 1-mile segment of Astra Parkway, just south of Kansas Highway 10 (K-10). To relieve congestion, the existing two-lane typical sections will be widened to accommodate a four-lane divided arterial, guardrail/median barrier improvements, and new navigable lighting systems. A new multilane roundabout will further enhance safety and accessibility.
Our integrated design-build team is leading all project activities, from initial environmental review and preliminary engineering through the construction phase, working with KDOT to mitigate project risks early in design. Our environmental and public engagement specialists helped the team accommodate parkland, properties on historical registries, and areas of contamination within the corridor, while also addressing flood plain considerations to secure 404 permitting under the Clean Water Act.
We supported early utility coordination and relocation efforts to meet the project’s accelerated schedule, accommodating the 12 existing utilities within the project limits and planning for future development and utility infrastructure needs.
Leveraging our in-house capabilities, we were able to complete project design in less than six months. Our engineers worked closely with our construction professionals to develop contract documents that include plans and specifications, generate a more reliable construction cost estimate, design median crossovers to accommodate construction staging, and answer contractor requests for information (RFIs) to drive efficiency in construction. Due to our streamlined delivery, the project is on track to complete survey, design, environmental permitting, right-of-way acquisition, utility coordination and relocation, and construction within KDOT’s accelerated 22-month schedule.