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According to our updated survey results, an acceptable level of delay through the interchange area is about 5-10 minutes. Of course, less delay is always better.
A few respondents expanded their thoughts to describe traffic issues in larger cities and by comparison, a 5-10 minute delay isn’t so bad–today, but if 5-10 minutes becomes 20-30 minutes in years to come, then its a bigger issue.
What are your thoughts about an acceptable level of delay?

The Johnson County Gateway study has created a page as a way to broaden its audience and potentially engage more people.
Johnson County Gateway: I-435/I-35/K-10 Interchange Study

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As the study team develops the alternative improvement concepts, it makes sense to revisit some previously posted comments. This comment was posted in March.

“In my opinion the Interchange at Lackman creates far too many exits/entrances in an area in which drivers are trying to negotiate their way to the proper lanes for 435/I-35N/I-35S, especially with K-10 traffic crossing into I-435 traffic. I believe it should be eliminated and traffic sent to Renner or Ridgeview. Even Renner is very close to the interchange area but on the leading edge of it so is less disruptive to traffic flow.
Another improvement which might be nice would be adding a lane between Quivira (or before) and I-35 on 435W to allow the evening rush hour back-up to get out of the through-traffic lanes.”

That is a great comment. The study team is spending a great deal of time looking at the benefits and drawbacks of closing interchanges such as Lackman Road. It is true that the interchange is in close proximity to the I-35 exits and drivers have to act quickly in this area. While it might make sense to close the Lackman interchange from a congestion standpoint becuase it would reduce the number of access points, there are many other considerations such as the impacts to the local road system. If you don’t have access at Lackman, it adds traffic to Renner/Ridgeview and 95th Streets and increases traffic on those local roads. At this time, no decision has been made. There are many pros and cons to consider.

As far as adding a lane between Quivira and I-35– Good news–that one is already in the works. It is currently part of the I-435/US 69 project known as the ‘purple project’. It is planned to be built, but at this time there is no funding for it.

The study team’s goal is to develop a concept that improves traffic flow, minimizes adverse impacts to the surrounding area, improves the geometry of the road (straightens out curves and flattens hills) and makes the driver experience safer and more efficient.
There are a number of challenges that the design team faces when looking for solutions—they have to consider how I-435/I-35 and K-10 connect and try to make that connection as seamless as possible for the amount of traffic that the area is projected to have and so traffic can continue to move at the designated rate of speed established for the interstate. Then they need to consider how the local interchanges fit into the plan. They have to look at how to potentially add more lanes—where can the additional lanes be built? What will they impact? They have to consider if you add more lanes how does that impact the existing bridges—are new bridges needed? More lanes are especially critical to the flyovers.
In an effort to improve safety and limit the need for drivers to have quick weaving movements the engineers look at straightening curves, separating the access points and trying to separate where drivers are going by potentially creating collector/distributor roads, like the Nall and Roe exits.
These are just a few of the challenges facing the design engineers as they develop solutions, future blogs will address additional issues and challenges, such as directional signage, costs, interim improvements and access.