A good crowd gathered along side Enterprise Drive to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the new US-50 highway project.

The project will make US-50 a four lane highway from the east K-61 Junction to Airport and Yoder Roads, and provide diamond interchanges at both intersections eliminating the stop lights.

Work will also include reconstruction of the big curve at the K-61 junction which has been the site of many accidents and as State Transportation Secretary Deb Miller says catches people off guard.

Among those attending besides Miller, included Chamber President Dave Kerr and numerous city, county and state officials.

In addition to its safety benefits, the project will improve access to the Salt City Industrial Park – home to the Siemen’s wind energy nacelle plant, the medical and commercial concentration on the city’s east side, and accommodate the large amount of traffic coming into Hutchinson for the Kansas State Fair.

“These improvements will make Salt City more enticing to new businesses and help create opportunities for growing the local, regional and state economies,” said Secretary Miller.

The $32 million project will be constructed by Dondlinger and Sons Construction of Wichita. Estimated completion date is late 2013.

The project is part of the T-WORKS transportation program passed by the 2010 Legislature. An economic modeling tool used in the selection process for the major T-WORKS projects estimated the U.S. 50 project will provide an economic impact of $132 million.

“The Highway 50 corridor is a vital connecting link for economic development in our region,” said Hutchinson City Manager John Deardroff.

“We are fortunate to have leadership in all levels of government throughout our state who understand the significant role a good highway system plays in our ability to compete for economic development.”

More information about this project and the complete list of T-WORKS projects can be viewed by visiting the T-WORKS website, https://kdotapp.ksdot.org/TWorks/.