Yes. K-96 Improvements will support all modes of travel.
Proposed Diverging Diamond Interchanges (DDIs) include:

• Signal-activated pedestrian/cyclist crossings for protection.

• Fewer lanes to cross than traditional interchanges.

• A barrier-protected median through the intersection.

View Example Barrier-Protected Median

The public was invited to meetings and community open houses to provide input on the Environmental Assessment findings and early design concepts for K-96 Improvements, including Preliminary Design.

Public comments from open houses, letters, and emails were overall supportive of K-96 and interchange upgrades.

Common themes included:

• Strong preference for the DDI over the Displaced Left Turn (DLT); many requested DDI at all interchanges for consistency.

• Webb Road interchange received the most feedback—positive on the larger loop; mixed on eliminating 29th Street left turns.

• Positive reactions to safer bike/pedestrian crossings and requests to connect to existing trails.

• Strong support for prioritizing safety due to frequent crashes along the corridor.

The first Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) in the U.S. was built in Springfield, Missouri in 2009. There are numerous across the country now, including regionally in Junction City, Manhattan, and Kansas City. 

K-96 Improvements are separate from the Wichita North Junction Project (affecting I-135, I-235, and K-254) and East Kellogg Project (modernizing East Kellogg Ave from K-96 to 159th St). The majority of the Wichita North Junction Project impacting K-96 is anticipated to be completed before K-96 Improvements construction starts. 

Project teams are collaborating to provide an improved highway system for the region. 

An Environmental Assessment was conducted to guide decisions based on transportation needs, economic benefits, and environmental considerations. The K-96 Improvements Project Draft Environmental Assessment includes:

• Review of land use, historical/archaeological sites, and habitat/wetland surveys.

• Traffic noise modeling and other social/environmental analyses.

A public comment period was held March 27 – May 15, 2024 to gather feedback, which helped shape final designs.
Final step: The Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will confirm that the project will not cause significant environmental harm.
The project also coordinates with the National Park Service to repurpose a small part of Chisholm Creek Park for non-recreational use.

Left turns to and from 29th Street are the lowest vehicle count at the Webb Road interchange. For the rest of this interchange to operate efficiently and safely, the new configuration will eliminate these left-turn movements.

The implemented U-turns shown in the graphic below will be protected turns with green arrows. While they add a short travel distance, the improved signal coordination means the entire interchange will operate more efficiently.

The U-turns have been designed to accommodate passenger vehicles, semi-trucks and emergency response vehicles. For a detailed view of the Webb Road Interchange design, click the link below.

The City of Wichita is experiencing 3.1% annual population growth. A 2021 Screening Study found that within ten years, K-96 will need gradual expansion of freeway segments and pavement replacement.
Planned safety-focused improvements include:

• Relieving congestion and increasing capacity with added lanes to benefit local traffic and freight movement.

• Improving interchanges to reduce queueing on side roads and ramps.

K-96 Improvements include enhancements to the ramp connecting northbound I-135 to eastbound K-96, which will complement highway system upgrades already underway as part of the Wichita North Junction Project. The ramp is anticipated to be expanded from one lane to two lanes to accommodate future traffic growth while meeting the project’s goals of enhancing safety, improving capacity, and relieving congestion.

There will be access management and signal coordination required along the corridor, to enhance safety and traffic operations. Some existing driveways and intersections will be permanently closed or relocated farther away from the new intersections.