Richie Kennedy | route56.com

Welcome to route56.com

Welcome to my anchor point on the web. For over 20 years, I have shared various subjects regarding highway, railways, local radio, and more.

I chose the name “route56” in honor of the green and white variant of the US Highway shield that the Kansas Department of Transportation and its predecessor agency used specifically to mark US 56 from the designation of US 56 in 1956 until KDOT elected to adopt the standard black-and-white design in the mid-1980s

Click on the links above to access the pages devoted to the history of local radio and Kansas Highways, along with other creative outlets.

You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and Flickr.

Latest Blog Posts

  • KDOT Lettings: July 2024

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    Awarded bids announced on July 29 are highlighted in red.Awarded bids announced on September 9 are highlighted in blue. Federal-Aid: 7 C 5217-01: Replace a culvert on 220th Street over an unnamed stream southwest of Fairview 26 C 5221-01: Replace the 370th Avenue bridge over Big Creek South of Walker 69-19 KA 7352-01: Pavement marking…

  • Civil Servant’s Disclaimer

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    There are a couple of political issues that are currently on my radar. Before I can comment on them, I am obligated to make a disclaimer related to my day job. I am presently employed by the State of Kansas in the Office of Information Technology Services. The opinions articulated on this website are solely…

  • KDOT Lettings: June 2024

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    The June lettings include the widening of the western leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway, along with several pavement marking and bridge repair projects. Awarded bids announced on July 8th are highlighted in red. The Lawrence Times reported on the awarded bid for the South Lawrence Trafficway project on the 3rd. Awarded bids announced on…

  • KDOT Lettings: May 2024

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    Awarded Bids announced on June 6 are highlighted in red. Awarded bids announced on July 8 are highlighted in blue. Federal-Aid: 70-89 KA 6932-01: Deck patching on the California Avenue bridge over I-70 in Topeka. Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, $332,976.37. 4-89 KA 6933-01: Repair the approaches to the Oakland Expressway bridges over 6th…

  • KDOT Lettings: April 2024

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    Here are the projects scheduled to be up for bids on April 17. Awarded Bids announced on May 6 are highlighted in red. One Awarded bid announced on July 8 is highlighted in blue. Federal-Aid 23 TE 0517-01: New Sidewalk along the west side of Church Street from 15th Street to 20th Street in Eudora,…

  • KDOT lettings: March 2024

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    Federal-Aid: 7-22 KA 5722-01: Replace bridge over Mill Creek southeast of White Cloud. One lane traffic to be maintained, controlled by traffic signals. 435-46 KA 4275-02: Rehabilitation work on the I-435 bridges over Midland Drive in Shawnee and full-depth replacement of Midland Drive under 435. 66 TE 0531-01: New sidewalk along Oregon Street in Seneca…

  • KDOT Lettings: February 2024

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    Awarded bids announced on March 8 are highlighed in red. Federal-Aid: 35-46 KA 7190-01: PCCP Patching and 4-inch HMA overlay on Southbound I-35 from I-635 to 95th Street, including the exit ramps to Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch. PCCP patching (no overlay) on the exit ramps to 67th and Johnson Drive. Superior Bowen Asphalt Company…

  • KDOT Lettings: January 2024

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    Awarded bids announced on February 7 are highlighted in red Federal-Aid: 7-22 KA 5722-01: Replacement of Bridge #016 over Mill Creek on K-7 southeast of White Cloud. One lane of traffic to be maintained, controlled by signals. 52 N 0733-01: Construct new trails along Parallel Road and 158th Street in Baeshor.52 N 0734-01: Reconstruct 155th…

  • KDOT Lettings – December 2023

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    Awarded bids announced on January 2 are highlighted in red.One awarded bid announced on February 7 is highlighted in blue. Federal-Aid 7-3 KA 7132-01/7-22 KA-7119-01: 1.5-inch milling and 1.5-inch HMA overlay from Atchison to the Nebraska state line. Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, $5,652,729.16. 73-52 KA 5990-01: Storm Sewer replacement and reconstruction of 4th…

  • KDOT Lettings: November 2023

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    Federal-Aid: 9-3 KA 7006-01: 1.5-inch milling and 1.5-inch HMA overlay from US 159 to US 73 9-3 KA 7057-01/9-43 KA-7118-01: 1.5-inch surface recycle of the mainline lanes and chip seal of the entire roadway from US 75 to US 159. 4-44 KA 5931-01: Regrade side slope and remove guardrail on a short section of K-4…