Dozen cars damaged after hitting pothole on I-35 in Johnson County
A large pothole damaged about a dozen vehicles and temporarily closed part of southbound Interstate 35 in Johnson County during Monday morning’s rush hour, according to the Lenexa Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The highway patrol became aware of the problem when its first call came in around 7:45 a.m., reporting that vehicles were being damaged after hitting the pothole in the far right lane of southbound I-35 just before the exits to Interstate 435, a dispatcher for the highway patrol said.
Crews with the Kansas Department of Transportation responded to the area to repair the pothole.
Lenexa officers also responded to assist the highway patrol with about a dozen motorist assists due to flat tires, said Master Police Officer Danny Chavez, a spokesman for the Lenexa Police Department.
One of the lanes of the highway in that area was temporarily closed while crews repaired the pothole while troopers and officers helped drivers with the damaged tires. Repairs to the highway have been completed, and the highway has been fully reopened.
The deep pothole was discovered in the right lane of southbound I-35 over Pflumm Road, according to Delaney Tholen, public information officer for KDOT’s KC Metro office. Crews responded immediately, placing a steel plate over the hole. KDOT has ordered specialized concrete, which will be used to fill the pothole once it arrives. However, the permanent repair is not expected to be completed until early January. In addition to the initial response, a tow truck was dispatched to assist motorists in changing tires so they could safely continue their travels. Motorists whose vehicles were damaged as a result of the pothole can find more information about submitting a claim on KDOT’s Property Damage Claims website. All claims will be reviewed by KDOT’s legal staff. According to Tholen, the bridge over Pflumm Road is scheduled for a full replacement in 2029.
This story was originally published December 22, 2025 at 10:41 AM.
