Last link in Fort Scott to Louisburg route opens

Kansas legislators, political representatives, Kansas Department of Transportation representatives and members of the US-69 Highway Association celebrate after cutting the ribbon Wednesday morning to open the Linn County Safety Rest Area, and the expansion of the U.S. Highway 69 expansion from Louisburg to Fort Scott. (Michael Pommier/Tribune) [Click to enlarge]

On behalf of the US-69 Highway Association and the Frontier Military Scenic Byway, Dean Mann acted as Master of Ceremonies. His opening remarks spoke of the accomplishment it has been to expand U.S. Highway 69 thus far and what it means to the area.

"It is a great day in Kansas," Mann said.

Civil War color guard reenactor Mike Younggren holds the American Flag during Wednesday morning's ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Linn County Safety Rest Area, and the expansion of the U.S. Highway 69 expansion from Louisburg to Fort Scott. (Michael Pommier/Tribune) [Click to enlarge]

Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Deb Miller echoed Mann's remarks saying, "This is a landmark occasion."

According to Miller, construction on the expansion from Louisburg to Fort Scott began in 2002 and should be fully complete in about one month. She added, the project has cost a total of $250 million thus far.

Also on hand to speak was Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Secretary Mike Hayden. He addressed the crowd to talk about turning the vision of U.S. Highway 69 into a reality through hard work, dedication, and sacrifice by political leaders.

"The Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area was a vision, today it's a reality. The National Wildlife Refuge was a vision, it's a reality. Highway 69 was a vision ... it's a reality to Fort Scott," Hayden said. "We can't let the vision fall short."

To help keep the vision alive, Miller announced KDOT will begin design plans for the further expansion of U.S. Highway 69 from Fort Scott to Arma. She said there is no money to begin the project.

"If we aren't working today, we won't be ready for tomorrow when the economy does turn," Miller said.

The opening of the Linn County Safety Rest Area, located approximately five miles north of Pleasanton was also celebrated at the ribbon cutting. Inside, the building features displays of historic events and artifacts compiled by KDOT and the Kansas Scenic Byway Program. The displays provide information on historic events which happened along byway such as the transportation of supplies to Fort Scott during the Civil War and the Marais des Cygnes Massacre.

"They've done a great job depicting the history that happened along this byway," Mann said.

The ceremony is a major step the in the process of expanding U.S. Highway 69 from Louisburg to the junction with Interstate 44 in Oklahoma, according to Miller.

"It took us a long time to get to where we are," Mann said.

Hayden added, "I'm very, very proud that this road has been built at least to this extent ... we aren't done."