Highway closure will create nearly 60-mile detour in north-central Kansas

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY (KSNT) – Kansas transportation authorities are set to close a railroad crossing in the north-central part of the state this month that will result in a long detour.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) reports on KanDrive that it is planning to close KS-99 Highway in both directions around 6 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14 at a railroad crossing just south of Frankfort in Marshall County. The closure is necessary for workers to access the railroad crossing and make repairs to it.

KDOT reports the closure will last to about 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16. Drivers are encouraged to follow a posted detour route which connects Frankfort to Blaine in Pottawatomie County. This route will take drivers about an hour to travel and runs for a little under 60 miles, according to Google Maps. The detour route can be found below:

• Starting at East Second Street and KS-99 in Frankfort, travel west onto KS-9 Highway.
• Follow KS-9 west to U.S. Highway 77 and follow it to Waterville.
• Head south on U.S. 77 to Randolph, then turn east onto KS-16 Highway.
• Follow KS-16 through to Blaine.

The detour route above is the same for drivers trying to go north to Frankfort from Blaine but in reverse. You can learn more about upcoming road work projects and traffic delays by going to KanDrive or by calling 511.

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