Kansas Turnpike to demolish toll plazas on the turnpike starting as soon as August

Tollbooths along the Kansas Turnpike will be demolished over the next 18 months after the Kansas Turnpike Authority implemented a fully digital cashless tolling system on July 1.

With no more toll collectors on the turnpike, drivers will receive toll invoices either through the mail or to their KTAG accounts that can be paid online. There are a total 22 toll plaza interchanges that KTA will decommission over the next year-and-a-half, but work is expected to begin in August at the following locations:

• Mulvane/Casino, mile marker 32 and 33, I-35/KTA.
• South Wichita, mile marker 42, I-35/KTA.
• Wichita K-15, mile marker 45, I-35/KTA.
• Cassoday, mile marker 92, I-35/KTA.
• Emporia, mile marker 127, I-35/KTA.
• South Topeka, mile marker 177, I-335/KTA.
• Lecompton, mile marker 197, I-70/KTA.
• East Lawrence, mile marker 204, I-70/KTA.

KTA said the construction may cause intermittent single lane-closures and asks drivers to be alert while going through toll plazas and to be aware of signage and crew members.

The bid for the demolition of the South Topeka interchange and East Topeka interchange "will be completed between July 29, 2024 and Nov. 14, 2025," according to the KTA's contract, permitting there are no issues with weather or scheduling.

Bettis Asphalt and Construction Inc., in Topeka won the $1.9 million contract to demolish the Topeka interchanges, as well as the interchanges onto K-4 highway and near Admire.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Turnpike to demolish toll plazas on the turnpike starting as soon as August