Drivers in northwest Olathe will get a new route Wednesday, Oct. 28, when the city opens the 119th Street roundabout at Northgate Street.
The roundabout is part of the $55.7 million 119th Street Extension project. Adjacent sections of 119th Street, Northgate Street and Nelson Road will also open Wednesday, according to the city's project page.
The four-lane bridge spanning Mill Creek and the BNSF Railway tracks will stay closed longer. The city said it is waiting on delivery of exterior bridge railing materials and anticipates opening the bridge by the end of November.
The project fills a gap in 119th Street between Northgate and Woodland Road with a four-lane divided road and a bridge that carries vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists over the railroad. It was listed as a high priority in Olathe's Transportation Master Plan.
According to the Olathe Reporter's Lucas Irizarry, city staffers have said the new route will add about two minutes to the average commute but should save time overall.
The city says between 68 and 88 BNSF trains pass through the area daily. Once open, the bridge will offer drivers a route over the tracks that avoids train delays. The existing Woodland Road railroad crossing will remain open.
The Olathe City Council awarded the construction contract to Pyramid Contractors, Inc. on Nov. 5, 2024. Work began the following month. The Northgate Street and Nelson Road intersection closed in March to make way for the roundabout, the Kansas City Star reported at the time.
The council had authorized staff to move forward without Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding in February 2024, according to the city's project page. That decision meant the Woodland Road crossing at the BNSF tracks would remain open rather than close as originally planned.
Construction will continue through the end of 2026. The city has begun discussions with Project One Studio, the artist selected by the city's Art Committee, about placing a featured artwork inside the new roundabout. Installation is targeted for spring 2027.
Residents can track updates at the city's 119th Street Extension project page.
