The 95th Street and I-35 interchange will be closed for construction starting at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21.
95th and I-35 interchange closing down tonight, won't reopen for 6 months @41ActionNews pic.twitter.com/y7czCoeemb
— Ali Hoxie (@ali_hoxie) February 21, 2016
According to the Johnson County Gateway Project website, the area will be rebuilt into a new diverging diamond interchange. The entire interchange and some surrounding streets will be closed for six months. The website also states the reconstruction will include adding new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and new lighting.
What is a "diverging diamond?" Also called a double crossover diamond interchange, it means two directions of traffic on the non-freeway road cross to the opposite side on both sides of the bridge at the freeway.
WATCH: Kacie McDonnell explains how it works in the video player above.
Road closures
Johnson County Gateway’s website states all ramps to and from I-35 and 95th Street from Noland Road to Monrovia Street will be closed.
Portions of Marshall Drive and Lenexa Drive on either side of I-35 will be closed through June. The website says underpasses will be added on Marshall Drive and Lenexa Drive to allow traffic to flow independently from 95th Street interchange traffic.
“I come through this area a lot, so it’s going to cause me to have to detour," said Shawnee resident, Candice Olenick. "I know I’m going to forget that it’s closed and then I’m going to have to backtrack.”
JB's One Stop says they are preparing to see less people inside the store while construction is underway.
“We will have less foot traffic but what we have to do is go on the positive side of that," said owner James Briuer. "We have to take more care of the customers that do come in."
The site also states construction to convert Bradshaw Street and Gillett Street into a cul-de-sac started in January and is scheduled to be complete in May 2016.
Detour routes
The Johnson County Gateway Project says the marked detour will be via 87th Street to either Quivira Road and Pflumm Road, but using U.S. 69 or I-435 and other local streets is also suggested.
Detour map courtesy the Johnson County Gateway Project
Learn more about the project, visit http://jocogateway.com/95th-street-and-i-35-diverging-diamond-interchange/.
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