Association forms to support long-awaited northwest Wichita freeway expansion
By Audrey Jensen – Senior Reporter, Wichita Business Journal
Feb 24, 2026
Community and business leaders have formed a nonprofit organization to advocate for a long-desired freeway expansion that’s set to be an economic boon for northwest Wichita.
The Northwest Expressway Corridor Association announced this week that the public-private partnership will promote development of what it says is the most substantial highway project for the region since the the downtown flyover expansion on Kellogg.
“It’s really a voice for the western half of Sedgwick County, for the businesses and communities and property owners — a central place where they know they can be heard, that there’s somebody looking out for their interests as well with regards to this project,” said Tim Austin, principal at Iron Horse Development, who is helping form the association and has advocated for the expansion for years.
The freeway extension — which would expand K-254 from 45th Street North and Maize Road and wrap around west and south to Kellogg — has been talked about for decades but seen little progress since an initial major investment study was conducted in the 1990s.
A drove of business and community leaders showed up in October to the Kansas Department of Transportation’s biennial consult meeting to advocate for the freeway expansion to be considered a top priority for the state’s projects.
KDOT is in the process of completing an updated study that’s expected to be released this summer, Austin said. The Northwest Expressway Corridor Association plans to conduct an economic impact study in conjunction with the state to identify broader benefits such as job creation, tax growth and investments.
Bryan Frye, former City Council member for northwest Wichita, and former Sedgwick County commissioner David Dennis are helping lead the association’s efforts alongside Austin.
Others who are supporting the freeway expansion include Ascension Via Christi, Lange Real Estate, Goddard city administrator Craig Crossette, Brandon Mason of Slawson Cos. and other city, county and regional partners.
“There’s a lot of people wanting to see this project move forward,” Austin said.
The association is looking for more members to advocate for the expansion and help support the economic impact study.
Joe Dessenberger, deputy city manager at the city of Maize, said vacant land that is suitable for commercial development around the path of the proposed freeway has been left vacant despite interest from developers.
“They look at this space that really has become an economically blighted area because of the unknowns” with the freeway expansion moving forward, Dessenberger said.
The freeway expansion is also anticipated to help relieve traffic for residents and freight transportation.
Dessenberger said the state has acquired about 40% of the right-of-way land for the freeway and has an additional $28 million for additional right-of-way acquisition.
He said he hopes the study and economic impact analysis will “solidify that this is the most consequential project in our area,” he said.
