Kansas Department of Transportation
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Transportation announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded a $23.9 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) discretionary grant to Junction City for the Rebuilding Grant Avenue Project.
The BUILD Grant application was the result of extensive collaboration among federal, state, regional, and local partners. The City of Junction City along with KDOT recognizes the dedication of numerous organizations and individuals whose leadership, technical expertise and advocacy helped secure this historic investment.
The project includes the reconstruction of an approximately two-mile length of Grant Avenue for safety improvements, resilient floodplain design, ADA-compliant multimodal facilities and durable pavement. The four-lane roadway will be reconstructed as an undivided, raised and crowned four-lane road with a center two-way left-turn lane (TWLTL), bus turnouts, vegetated swales, sidewalks, five street crossings and a roundabout.
“This monumental funding for the Grant Avenue Corridor reconstruction, works hand-in-glove with our EPA Recreation Economy for Rural Communities,” said Junction City Mayor Terry Butler. “Together these projects represent a strategic leap forward. They will prove instrumental in economic growth, connecting our community and military assets, boosting outdoor recreation, revitalizing our downtown and positioning Junction City as a vibrant regional destination.”
“This investment is a testament to the efforts of Junction City, KDOT and local partners to improve a high-volume corridor that will benefit Kansans and visitors alike,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I look forward to seeing this project increase reliability and mobility for Fort Riley and the greater region.”
Grant Avenue is a vital corridor for a military-connected community and provides critical access that supports Fort Riley operations,” said Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02). “I’m happy to see this historic investment that better connects Junction City with Fort Riley.”
This grant will address documented safety and accessibility deficiencies, while providing a better connection for the local transportation network. Grant Avenue now carries over 14,000 vehicles per day, providing important access for commuters, emergency response and Fort Riley operations.
Kansas was also awarded three additional FY2026 BUILD grants:
- City of Lenexa, Lone Elm Interchange Project - $16 million awarded
- Pawnee County, Pawnee Feedlot Freight Access Project - $20.3 million awarded
- City of Wichita, Eisenhower National Airport Interchange Planning and Design - $2.4 million awarded
Support for this grant application was provided by the Kansas Infrastructure Hub, whose purpose is to connect Kansas communities with federal grants to help fund infrastructure challenges.
The federal BUILD grant program provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact.
For more details on BUILD grants, go to https://www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants.