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In September 2022, the Kansas Department of Transportation received a nearly $7 million Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) grant from the Federal Highway Administration to support the U.S. 83 Advanced Technology Project. KDOT has also provided matching funds for the project.

Commuting should be smoother. Motorists will have access to additional travel information that will equip them to carefully plan for trips and monitor ongoing traffic activity during their drive.

The U.S. 83 Advanced Technology Project is a recipient of an Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technology Deployment Grant. The primary goal of this project is to enhance and improve freight travel by utilizing advanced technology. It is anticipated that this technology system will help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow for all drivers at a fraction of the cost of a major road widening.

KDOT is interested in exploring other congestion solutions in the future. We encourage participation in the KDOT Local Consult Meetings which help determine the transportation investments around the state every two years. If enough comments are received about U.S. 83 widening, the chances of expediting improvements can be increased. Information about Local Consult Meetings in your area can be found here.

The U.S. 83 Advanced Technology Project seeks to utilize advanced technology to improve travel along U.S. 83, promoting safety, better economic productivity, and overall efficiency. Additionally, the project is designed to enhance the capabilities of the KanDrive public website, adding hands-free features, allowing drivers to safely get updates about road conditions. Drivers will also be able to use third-party and crowd-sourced data such as Waze to monitor traffic conditions via phone apps and use the KanDrive app to report crashes or other hazards to KDOT.

The project limits include the existing right-of-way on U.S. 83 from the Thomas/Sheridan County line in the north to Finney/Haskell County line in the south. The total length of the project corridor is 131 miles.

KanDrive is the Kansas Department of Transportation’s public website that reports weather conditions, construction, traffic speeds, and other pertinent traffic information for the entire state. It can be accessed by visiting KanDrive.gov or by downloading the KanDrive app.

The U.S. 83 Advanced Technology Project will utilize advanced technologies that will improve safety and economic productivity along U.S. 83. Phase one of the project will install new fiber optic cable along U.S. 83 between Garden City and I-70. Phase two of the project will deploy Advanced Technology that will inform drivers of various conditions on U.S. 83 to assist and prepare U.S. 83 motorists ahead of and during their trip.

The advanced technology that will be potentially implemented in this project includes devices such as electronic signs, cameras, KanDrive app enhancements, weather detection devices, traffic detection devices and connected vehicle infrastructure that can “talk” to vehicles. These advanced technologies will provide drivers of U.S. 83 and KDOT valuable information such as traffic conditions, crash reports, weather conditions, and other travel updates in real-time. This information, for example, can assist drivers with determining if an alternate route may be necessary if there is a crash or incident on U.S. 83 that may cause a delay in their travel.

The KanDrive app will be enhanced to allow hands-free access to travel information while driving. This advanced technology will be able to report roadway conditions, traffic updates, construction impacts, truck parking information, weather alerts and other vital information via KanDrive, third party apps, digital roadside message signs, and in-cab devices for freight providers.

Connected vehicle technology, which will be implemented in production vehicles in the future, is being tested as part of this project. Connected vehicle technology allows messages to be sent between roadside units and onboard units installed in vehicles. A small number of onboard units will be installed in commercial vehicles or KDOT vehicles that regularly travel along the corridor to demonstrate this technology’s capabilities.

The U.S. 83 Advanced Technology Project will be planned in two phases. Phase one is currently underway and will deploy 90 miles of fiber optic cable along U.S. 83 with a completion date of 2025. The second phase will mark the deployment of an advanced technology system and subsequent monitoring to measure performance. The advanced technology system is expected to be installed by 2026, with monitoring completed by 2028.

Yes, it is anticipated that drivers will be able to receive additional traffic updates and other corridor information provided by the system on their mobile device through the KanDrive app, Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze apps among others. 

No, roadway users will not be required to put modern technology in their vehicles. All technology deployed will be functional regardless of individual vehicle Bluetooth connectivity.

Any cameras used as part of the U.S. 83 Advanced Technology Project will not be capable of reading license tags nor can they identify individual drivers. No facial recognition technology is involved. The cameras will only have the ability to show traffic flow, road conditions, and weather conditions. The advanced technologies will not use or collect any data that can be used to identify drivers.

It is anticipated that drivers will be able to report road conditions via applications such as KanDrive and Waze. This information will then be collected by KDOT and shared in several ways including electronic message signs along the corridor and the KanDrive website or app.

Yes, there will be phases of the project that will give interested parties an opportunity to comment on the project and talk with project team members. Information regarding the next meeting will be announced on our website. If you wish to be added to an email list to receive project updates, including notifications of the next public meeting, please sign up here.