TORONTO — A bridge replacement project in southern Woodson County is expected to be complete next spring, roughly 18 months after original forecasts.
The Cedar Creek bridge on K-105 Highway, which connects Toronto and Cross Timbers State Park from U.S. 54, was originally supposed to be rebuilt from May to December 2024.
But as work began, crews realized the sub-surface geological conditions were much different than what engineers had expected, explained Warren Ebberts, construction manager from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
“Essentially, they found many very quick changes within the geology below the surface,” Ebberts said. “And that created a need to redesign the sub-structure we used to support the bridge structure.”
While finding subterranean conditions different than what was expected isn’t unheard of, the scope of the changes at Cedar Brook “don’t happen very often,” Ebberts said. “This is a unique event.”
THE EXTENDED deadline has made travel a headache for Toronto residents, because the bridge is limited to a single lane.
Stop lights operating on timers at opposite ends of the bridge mean waiting anywhere from 5 to 7 minutes if you arrive at the wrong time, noted Tayelor Wallace, who lives south of the bridge near Toronto.
“I understand the delays, but I’m concerned about the safety,” said Wallace, whose husband crosses the bridge twice daily during his commute to work in Wichita. “I’ve seen too many times where people just get tired of waiting, so they’ll drive across the bridge, even with a red light.”
IF THERE’S a bright side, the bridge project has not cut into the public’s usage of the Cross Timbers State Park facilities.
Park officials said attendance in 2025 was comparable to years past.
Cross Timbers spans 4,600 acres of wildlife area surrounding the 2,800-acre Toronto Lake, and is a favored fishing, camping, hiking and hunting area.
