Richie Kennedy | route56.com

Welcome to route56.com

Welcome to my anchor point on the web. For over 20 years, I have shared various subjects regarding highway, railways, local radio, and more.

I chose the name “route56” in honor of the green and white variant of the US Highway shield that the Kansas Department of Transportation and its predecessor agency used specifically to mark US 56 from its creation until the mid 1980s.

Click on the links above to access the pages devoted to the history of local radio and Kansas Highways, along with other creative outlets.

You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Flickr.

Latest Blog Posts

  • KDOT Lettings: May 2023

    There are 22 projects up for letting on May 24, and we lead off with a South Lawrence Trafficway related project. Federal-Aid: 40-23 KA 2841-02: Reconstruct the existing SLT/6th Street (US 40) interchange as a DDI. Part of US 40 closed on the west side of the interchange, detour via K-10 and I-70. 24-23 KA […]

  • Four in a row

    The BNSF Emporia Subdivision can be a busy place, but this afternoon At Ridgeton, I managed to catch four trains with only a few minutes between them.

  • KDOT Lettings: April 2023

    There are 17 projects up for bidding on April 19. Approved bids announced on May 5 are highlighted in red. Federal-Aid: 73-03 KA 3889-01: Replace bridge #014 over the Walnut Creek Drainage 4.55 miles northwest of the Thomas Road (former K-74) intersection. One-lane traffic through the work zone controlled by a temporary traffic signal. A […]

  • KDOT Lettings: March 2023

    There are 17 projects up for bidding on March 22. Approved bids announced on April 4 are highlighted in red. The approved bid announced on May 5 is highlighted in blue.

  • KDOT Lettings, February 2023

    There are only 11 projects up for bids on February 15. Approved Bids announced on February 27 are highlighted in red. Approved Bids announced on April 4 are highlighted in blue.

  • KDOT Lettings: January 2023

    There are 23 projects up for bids on January 18. Awarded bids announced on January 26 are highlighted in red. Awarded bids announced on February 27 are highlighted in blue.

  • KDOT Lettings: December 2022

    There are 29 projects up for bids on December 14, including three bridge replacements, the removal of an unused bridge, and a new roundabout near Dodge City. Approved bids announced on January 9 are highlighted in red.

  • KDOT Lettings: October 2022

    There are 26 projects up for bids on October 19. Approved bids announced on November 9 are highlighted in red. Approved bids announced on November 30 are highlighted in blue. One approved bid announced on January 9 is highlighted in purple.

  • KDOT Lettings: November 2022

    There are only 16 projects up for letting on November 17, but one of them is a big-ticket item: the next phase of improvements to the I-135/I-235/K-254/K-96 junction on the north side of Wichita. Approved bids announced on November 30 are highlighted in red.

  • One walk without the dog

    As I have noted earlier, I am within walking distance of my polling place. In fact, I have occasionally walked my Minpin and my uncle’s Black Lab by the place. I don’t think it would be appropriate to bring a non-service dog to the polls, so at a quarter to seven, I made the trek […]