I-70 closure planned in Topeka for this weekend

TOPEKA (KSNT) - The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) says it plans to close eastbound I-70 through the downtown Topeka area this weekend as part of ongoing work on the Polk-Quincy Viaduct project.

Kate Craft with KDOT said in a press release that the closure will start at 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8 and will wrap up by Saturday, Dec. 9 for patching work. The closure will impact I-70 from Topeka Boulevard to SE Eighth Street.

The First Street exit will be the last open exit on I-70 before the construction zone begins. Detours will be posted to navigate traffic south to I-470 or north to U.S. 75 to U.S. 24 then to K-4. Motorists can also use the local street detour which takes drivers from First Street to the I-70 on-ramp beyond the road work.

Craft said westbound I-70 will stay open but will be taken down to a single lane. More closures may come in the near future if more patching work is needed on the viaduct.

Both westbound and eastbound I-70 will remain at one lane until construction on the viaduct is finished. Work on the Polk-Quincy Viaduct is set to start in early 2025.

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