SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. (KAKE) - A major bridge renovation project on Zoo Blvd. will be underway on September 11 and is expected to take about a year to complete, county officials said Tuesday.

The bridge in need of repair spans the the M.S. Mitch Mitchell Floodway, commonly known as the Big Ditch, between I-235 and Windmill Rd. Frequent commuters are being asked to find an alternate route, as this project is expected to cause delays, long-term lane closures and no-left turns at the intersection on Zoo Blvd. and Windmill Rd. 

Work on the bridge will impact the roughly 32,000 vehicles that use the bridge every day.

“I know this will be an inconvenience to drivers, especially those who live or work on the west side of Wichita,” said Lynn Packer, Director of Sedgwick County Public Works. “But this rehabilitation project is crucial to preserving the integrity and safety of this well-traveled bridge.”

Packer estimates the cost for the project to be $2.7 million dollars, with federal funding covering $2.2 million. Sedgwick County is working with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the City of Wichita to coordinate changes in traffic and communication.