HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The City of Hutchinson celebrated a major milestone with the reopening of Woodie Seat Freeway this morning, with a ribbon cutting at 10:00 a.m.
The Woodie Seat Bridge, along with the infrastructure north of the bridge, south of Avenue C, was closed to all through traffic in September of 2023. In January of 2026, Avenue A was reopened to eastbound and westbound traffic, with the Avenue C Bridge Rehabilitation Project the final step of the Woodie Seat Project.
This morning, city leaders, project partners, and community members gathered to celebrate the completion of the project, and led a parade of city vehicles on Woodie Seat and around the roundabout to mark the occasion.
The roadway is now officially open to traffic, with Main Street once again the through street, and the Woodie Seat detour officially removed. Eastbound and westbound traffic on Avenue F will return to stop sign control.
There are a few additional items that remain to be completed, including a short section of guardrail and one light pole. This will require temporary lane closures but will not impact the reopening.
City officials spoke of a possible mural to celebrate the Hispanic heritage of the SW Bricktown neighborhood in which the Woodie Seat Freeway is located, as well as landscaping around the area and inside of the roundabout.
