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It was years in the making, and now it's officially open.
The last piece of the $127 million, four-year Focus435 project opened Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008. The project included:
- A new interchange at Antioch Road and I-435.
- Widening I-435 from six to eight lanes between Metcalf and U.S. 69, including auxiliary lanes between interchanges for entering and exiting.
- An elevated two-lane flyover ramp from southbound U.S. 69 to eastbound I-435.
- Partial reconstruction of the 103rd Street interchange.
This was the largest project in Johnson County’s history.
In the mid-1980s, then Overland Park Mayor Ed Eilert and Chamber Executive Director Mary Birch began to pitch an interchange at Antioch and I-435 to serve Corporate Woods and surrounding residential areas.
The city worked with the Kansas Department of Transportation on the four-year project. Clarkson Construction Company, the contractor, started construction in mid-September 2005.
Although an opening ceremony was held Dec. 15, 2008, work, including landscaping, will continue through spring 2009.