Council Grove has received its second major transportation grant in as many days, with the Kansas Department of Transportation announcing Tuesday that the city has been awarded $400,000 for improvements to K-177 through the community.
The award comes one day after the city learned it will receive a $1.323 million Safe Routes to School grant for pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Together, the two KDOT awards provide more than $1.72 million in state funding for transportation improvements in Council Grove.
The latest award is through KDOT’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program, commonly known as CCLIP. Council Grove’s project has an estimated total cost of $711,600, with $400,000 provided through the state program.
Work will include K-177 from the Elm Creek bridge north to Main Street and Union Street from Main Street north to the levee at the old city limits. An ADA-accessible crossing will also be added at Conn Street, along with pavement markings.
Council Grove’s project is classified as a Surface Preservation project. CCLIP Surface Preservation projects are intended to extend the life of existing roadway surfaces through improvements such as overlays and joint repairs.
The Council Grove project is among 32 projects statewide selected for the 2028 and 2029 state fiscal year funding cycle. Gov. Laura Kelly and KDOT announced a total of $24.1 million in CCLIP funding Tuesday. With local contributions included, the 32 projects have a combined value of nearly $33 million.
“Improving regional connectivity is a vital step in expanding accessibility across the state,” Kelly said. “Thanks to programs such as the CCLIP, we’re building a strong transportation foundation that will continue to deliver long-lasting benefits in Kansas.”
Council Grove is one of eight projects selected in KDOT’s North Central Region, which will receive a combined $5.2 million in CCLIP funding.
The CCLIP program provides funding to cities for improvements to portions of state highways that serve as city connecting links. Projects are divided into Surface Preservation, Pavement Restoration and Geometric Improvement categories.
The two grants announced Monday and Tuesday will address different transportation needs in Council Grove. The $1.323 million Safe Routes to School award will focus on pedestrian and bicycle safety, while the $400,000 CCLIP award will address the condition of the K-177 connecting link through the city.