OTTAWA — The new U.S. 59 expressway in Franklin County will open Dec. 21, weather permitting. Kansas Department of Transportation area engineer Hugh Bogle said the Franklin County section is nearly done with pavement marking, guard rails, signs, and grading work remaining to be done. He said concrete must still be poured for the flyover ramp at Riley Road, which will connect the new expressway and the old 59. He says the flyover ramp will open in the spring. However, a KDOT spokeswoman said the Douglas County section has been broken up into two phases and won’t open until later. The southern Douglas County section between the Franklin County line and 650 Road will be done in two years. The northern Douglas County section will be done in three years.
