Leavenworth County’s prime locations may be among the most heavily influenced by transportation of any in the area.

This region’s major growth corridors to a large degree are focused on the far north and south. These two polar magnets include the areas of Leavenworth County to nearby Wyandotte County’s Kansas Speedway and Village West to the southeast, and Kansas City International and I-29 to the northeast.

Not surprisingly, the most significant north/south corridor connects these two areas. Kansas Highway 7 (K-7) intersects I-70 in Wyandotte County just west of Kansas Speed-way/Village West area. It forms a significant freeway-quality route north to Lansing and Leavenworth, where a significant portion of the county’s retail and commercial development is located.

East/west routes are more limited but also illustrate the impact of surrounding areas. The Midwest’s major east-west interstate, I-70, cuts through southern Leavenworth but has had little direct economic impact because the Kansas Turnpike Authority’s limited access design has resulted in little adjacent development. Officials have made extensive progress in developing a new I-70 interchange that would provide access directly into Leavenworth County.

Just north of I-70, U.S. Highway 40/24 runs parallel to I-70 through Basehor and Tonganoxie. Since 40/ 24 was widened to four lanes in 1997, Basehor and Tonganoxie have become two of the fastest growing communities in the state of Kansas.

That scenario could change dramatically with a proposed I-70 interchange and road development south of Tonganoxie. Approved by the turnpike authority but awaiting full funding, the approximately $8 million project would provide a direct link from I-70 to Tonganoxie and help further spur development in the county’s south/central area. Planners are also examining a possible connection south to Eudora in Douglas County, forming an “outer loop” connecting to Highway 92 into Missouri.

Highway 92 is significant on its own merits, however. Connecting the city of Leavenworth with I-29 at Platte City, the highway provides a 20-minute drive to Kansas City International Airport. As increasing numbers of Leavenworth residents and businesses realize, this surprising access is one of the most overlooked advantages in the metro area.