A well traveled highway between Baxter Springs and the Missouri state line will close for reconstruction.

 The construction, beginning Tuesday, May 30th, will close a section of U.S. 166 east of Baxter Springs. The closure begins east of 5 Mile Avenue and continues east for 3 miles to the K-26 junction. Areas of U.S. 166 that are outside of the active work zone will be limited to local traffic only. All through traffic should follow the state route detour on K-26, K-66 and U.S. 69A

 During the closure U.S. 166 will be reconstructed on a new four-lane alignment south of the existing roadway. 5 Mile Avenue will be open to traffic until the construction of a tie-in at the end of this project phase. SE 90th Street will remain open to traffic. The work is part of the KDOT project to expand U.S. 166 and construct two interchanges from U.S. 400 southeast to the Kansas-Missouri state line. Work started earlier this year.

 Weather permitting, KDOT expects to reopen the realigned U.S. 166 later this fall. Highway condition and construction details are always available on KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.kandrive.org.