Governor Kelly announces $40.5M for 27 Local Bridge Projects
Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed today announced that 27 local and off-system bridge projects across Kansas will receive a combined total of $40.5 million in state and federal funding as part of two local bridge improvement programs.
“By funding bridge projects across our state, we are directly investing in the future of our communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Repairing and replacing aging bridges ensures people and commerce can move safely and efficiently throughout Kansas.”
Combined with matching funds from the awarded cities and counties, the total project value is over $46.5 million. By reshaping the local bridge programs, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) more than doubled its annual funding as part of the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).
There are more than 19,000 bridges on local road systems across Kansas, and over 5,000 of those bridges need updates to meet today’s standards.
“The Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program has allowed us to enhance our commitment to local bridges,” Secretary Reed said. “This is about more than just infrastructure; it’s about strengthening the vital connections that keep our towns and cities thriving.”
KDOT will award about $20 million through the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program (KLBIP) in Fiscal Year 2026. The funds will go to 11 bridge replacement projects, and an additional four deficient bridges will be permanently removed from local systems. The KLBIP, established in 2015, provides funds to local public authorities for the replacement or rehabilitation of deficient city and county-owned bridges. The program also allows cities and counties to be awarded additional funds for the removal of deficient bridges.
KDOT will award $20.5 million through the Off-System Bridge program (OSB) in Fiscal Year 2027 to fund 16 projects across the state. The OSB program was established to comply with federal requirements to use a specific portion of federal funds for bridges not on the federal-aid system. The funding is a combination of federal Surface Transportation Block Grant funds, Bridge Program Funds, and state funds.
The OSB and KLBIP programs are used for city and county bridges in need of replacement or repair that are not on the state highway system. Funds for both programs are awarded through an application process and, in most cases, require a local contribution. KDOT uses selection criteria that consider items such as bridge condition, detour length, inability to carry legal loads, and past project history.
For this cycle of the local bridge programs, KDOT received a combined total of 163 applications requesting $189.3 million.
Below is a list of the area recipients and project locations for the KLBIP and OSB programs.
2026 Area Local Bridge Improvement Program Projects
| Local Government Agency | Location | Local Contribution | Local % Match | KDOT Match Funds | Funds for Bridge Removal | Total Funds Awarded |
| Edwards County | 20 Road (RS 1491) over a tributary to Little Coon Creek 7.0 miles north of Offerle | $65,521 | 0% | $900,000 | $ – | $900,000 |
| Gray County | FF Road over Crooked Creek tributary 6.0 miles south and 0.8 mile east of Haggard | $110,459 | 5% | $750,000 | $ – | $750,000 |