County funding will help rebuild a stretch of Lone Elm Road, add roundabouts and replace aging stormwater pipes in northwest Olathe.
Two infrastructure projects in northwest Olathe will receive a combined $5.1 million in Johnson County funding next year, including a major reconstruction of Lone Elm Road that will replace an aging roadway, add bicycle lanes and sidewalks, and change how drivers navigate several intersections.
The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners approved the funding Thursday, Oct. 22, as part of a countywide $48.9 million investment in road and stormwater improvements planned for 2027. Olathe will receive approximately $3.3 million toward rebuilding Lone Elm Road between 119th Street and Harold Street, while another $1.8 million will support replacement of deteriorating stormwater pipes along Northgate Street between Harold Street and Nelson Road. The amounts represent county contributions toward the projects, not necessarily their total costs.
The larger of the two projects involves a roughly one-mile stretch of Lone Elm Road that city officials have identified as needing improvements to accommodate traffic, increase safety and provide better access for pedestrians and bicyclists. The existing roadway will be reconstructed as a two-lane divided arterial street with a raised median, new pavement, curbs, gutters, streetlights, turn lanes and an enclosed storm sewer system. Sidewalks and bicycle accommodations will also be added, giving residents more options for traveling along a corridor that currently lacks continuous pedestrian facilities.
Perhaps the most noticeable changes for motorists will come at the intersections. The existing four-way stop at Lone Elm Road and Harold Street will be replaced with a roundabout. Farther south, the intersections at 123rd Terrace and 124th Street will be redesigned into a connected dual-roundabout configuration, sometimes called a dogbone roundabout. The design is intended to manage turning movements and traffic entering Lone Elm from the surrounding neighborhoods without adding more through-traffic lanes.
The city’s plans also include new left- and right-turn lanes at selected intersections and changes to how several neighborhood streets connect with Lone Elm Road. Some intersections will retain full access, while others will have restricted turning movements. Those details could be particularly important to residents who regularly use the corridor to reach their homes, schools and businesses.
Although the project will substantially change the appearance and operation of the road, it is not intended to transform Lone Elm into a four-lane highway. The planned design retains one through lane in each direction, separated by a median, with additional space provided for turning vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
Olathe has been planning the reconstruction for several years. In January 2025, the City Council authorized the project with an estimated cost of approximately $15.86 million, including design, land acquisition, utility relocation, construction and inspection. The latest county contribution will help pay a portion of the eligible roadway expenses, but it does not represent the full amount needed to complete the work.
The project is currently in the design process, with the city anticipating construction beginning in 2027. Before work can start, engineers must complete the plans, acquire necessary property rights and coordinate utility relocations. The city has estimated that construction could take approximately one year, although the final schedule and traffic restrictions will depend on the completed design and construction contracts.
The second Olathe project receiving county assistance involves stormwater infrastructure along Northgate Street between Harold Street and Nelson Road. Johnson County allocated $1.8 million to replace aging corrugated metal pipes that carry stormwater beneath or alongside the roadway. Those pipes can deteriorate over time, creating structural problems that eventually require major repairs or replacement.
The Northgate project is intended to improve the structural integrity of the drainage system by replacing the aging pipe infrastructure. The county’s announcement did not provide a detailed construction schedule or identify specific road closures associated with the work. It also did not describe the project as a response to a particular recent flooding incident, but rather as an infrastructure replacement needed to address the condition of the existing system.
Both projects are part of Johnson County’s long-running partnership with its cities to finance transportation and stormwater infrastructure. The County Assistance Road System, commonly called CARS, helps pay for eligible road construction and major improvement projects. Under the program, Johnson County generally provides up to 50% of eligible construction and inspection costs, while participating cities remain responsible for expenses such as design, right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation.
The CARS program is supported by a combination of motor vehicle fuel tax revenue and county property tax funding. Stormwater improvements are financed through a separate county program supported by a dedicated one-tenth of one percent sales tax. Both programs are intended to help local governments address infrastructure needs that might otherwise place additional pressure on individual city budgets.
County commissioners approved approximately $18.7 million for the 2027 CARS program and another $30.2 million for stormwater management. The road program will support 15 projects in 13 cities, while the stormwater plan includes pipe inspection and replacement projects, watershed improvements and other efforts involving flood control and water quality.
Johnson County Commission Chairman Mike Kelly said the combined investments reflect the benefits of cooperation between the county and its cities.
“When Johnson County, our cities and our watershed partners work together, taxpayers get real results – safer roads, improved water quality and better flood control,” Kelly said.
For Olathe residents, the most visible results will eventually be found along Lone Elm Road, where the existing pavement and intersections will be replaced by a more developed arterial roadway with new pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The Northgate project will be less visible once completed, but it addresses the underground drainage system that helps protect the roadway and surrounding infrastructure.
The county’s October 22 decision represents an approved funding commitment, not the start of construction. The Lone Elm project remains in design, and the city has not announced a final construction-related traffic plan. Northgate’s pipe replacement will also require additional project scheduling before work begins.
With $5.1 million in county assistance now allocated for 2027, both projects have secured an important portion of their funding as Olathe prepares for another year of road construction and infrastructure improvements.
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