Kansas Turnpike getting rid of storm shelters as toll plazas go cashless
The change will begin in July.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - Some tornado shelters are going away on the Kansas Turnpike.
Right now, drivers can find 21 storm shelters at toll plazas across the state, but soon, the agency will get rid of them as they reconfigure the plaza for cashless tolling.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority installed them with staff in mind.
"It's a pretty rare occasion. Usually, what happens if a booth is staffed with an employee and they end up taking shelter? They might say to a customer in a lane, 'Hey, do you wanna take shelter with me?' and usually, that's how those get used," said Bell.
So without employees, they aren't needed.
"Without having employees in those areas any longer, we won't have the need for the tornado shelter, so those will be removed to make way for a better driving experience for the public," said Rachel Bell with the KTA.
Bell says while the shelters are going away, the roads will be safer.
"It will be a more seamless experience similar to drivers using the North Junction. For example, you'll just seamlessly move from one road, the turnpike, onto another road, so it doesn't really make sense to have anything there that someone might stop at," she said.
"Travelers will need to have a plan for what their storm situation is. They need to watch the weather," said Bell.
The change will begin in July. Storm shelters will still be available at the KTA's six service locations.