Northwest Olathe intersection closes for new 119th Street roundabout
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Northgate and Nelson intersection closed for roundabout and Nelson rebuild.
- Detours use Santa Fe or North Ridgeview; maps posted on city site.
- $55.7M 119th Street project aims to finish by end of 2026 or early 2027.
An intersection in northwest Olathe closed last week to begin construction on a new roundabout on 119th Street.
The city announced last week that the intersection of Northgate Street and Nelson Road is closed until at least October for the 119th Street Extension Project. A roundabout is being built at 119th and Northgate Streets, connecting to a new bridge nearby, while a portion of Nelson Road is being rebuilt southwest of the roundabout.
Construction on this phase is anticipated to last through the end of the year, but contractors aim to reopen the area to traffic by October, according to the city website.
Residents were notified of the closure and provided detours in late February. Vehicles can take Santa Fe Street and North Ridgeview Road, depending on where they are headed, to bypass the construction. Detour routes can be seen on the city website.
Overall progress on the project took a pause early this year during freezing temperatures in January and February, the city said in a statement last month. Since then, contractors have pushed to start work on the roundabout.
Big picture look at 119th St. Extension
The project will develop a “missing link” of 119th Street between Northgate Street and Woodland Road. It includes a four-lane section divided by a median and a bridge spanning Mill Creek and the nearby BNSF Railroad.
It reconfigures the Northgate Street, Nelson Road intersection with a roundabout, improves pedestrian and bicycle accommodations and builds new medians to improve traffic safety.
The project creates a connection to the city’s Gary Haller Trial System at 119th Street and better connects the 119th Street corridor between Kansas Highway 7 and Interstate 35.
It also improves intersections along 119th Street at Lone Elm Road, Iowa Street, and Woodland Road by adding turn lanes and traffic signals.
The $55.7 million project was listed as a high priority in the city’s Transportation Master Plan. It aims to improve traffic flow and improve safety near the railroad.
Construction timeline
A tentative timeline puts the entire project complete by the end of this year, or early 2027.
Construction began in December 2024. Updates on 119th Street from Woodland Road to Lone Elm Road were completed in 2025.
This year, construction focuses on the portion from Northgate to Sunset.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 12:12 PM.
