Arkansas City Awarded $700,000 For F Street Bridge

Last week, Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed announced a major boost for local infrastructure: $40.25 million in funding allocated to 40 local and off-system bridge projects across the state. This funding, provided through two local bridge improvement programs, leverages new revenue from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

The City of Arkansas City is among the recipients of this vital support, set to receive $700,000 dedicated to the F Street Bridge. This project is essential for improving the stability and safety of a crucial transportation link for residents.

 "This grant is a significant step toward ensuring our local transportation infrastructure's long-term safety and functionality. We're grateful for the support from Governor Kelly, Secretary Reed, and the Kansas Department of Transportation," City Manager Randy Frazer said.

The awarded bridge projects' total value exceeds $45.2 million, combining state funding with matching contributions from cities and counties. This substantial increase in funding results from reshaping the local bridge programs to capitalize on the BIL, more than doubling the annual funding under the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).

For Fiscal Year 2026, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will allocate $20.45 million through the Off-System Bridge program (OSB) to fund 21 projects statewide. Additionally, approximately $19.8 million will be awarded through the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program (KLBIP) in Fiscal Year 2025.

KDOT received a combined total of 170 applications for this cycle, requesting $162.3 million, demonstrating the high demand and significant need for infrastructure improvements across the state.