TOPEKA- On Monday, Koss Construction Co. of Topeka became the first company to receive federal stimulus funds from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Koss, which submitted the winning bid for the McPherson County K-61 expansion project, was officially awarded the $64.2 million contract.
Koss was named the preliminary bid winner by KDOT earlier this month but the contract was made official Monday.
“The K-61 expansion is one of five stimulus projects in Kansas that will help create thousands of jobs, enhance motorist safety and support economic development,” said KDOT deputy secretary Jerry Younger.
Koss is currently working on the Reno County portion of the K-61 project and is expected to begin work on the McPherson County portion of the project in early June.
Total construction cost for the 23.1-mile, four-lane expansion from Hutchinson to McPherson is expected to cost $105.3 million. The project is expected to be completed in early 2012.
Koss’s bid for the project can in more than 25-percent lower than originally estimated. The extra funds originally allocated to the project will be applied to the initial phase of the K-18 four-lane expansion project between Fort Riley and Manhattan.
The K-61 project is expected to support more than 2,900 jobs and generate $220 million in annual economic output during construction. State-wide the KDOT stimulus projects are expected to generate about 10,000 jobs.
Topeka, Kan. —
