K-State plays host to KU this year in Manhattan The Sunflower Showdown, the annual Big 12 football game in which the Kansas State University Wildcats take on the University of Kansas Jayhawks, will bring many fans to the state’s highways and to Manhattan’s streets this weekend. The game in Manhattan on Saturday, Nov. 7, begins at 11:30 a.m.
The parking lots to Bill Snyder Family Stadium will open at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and fans are encouraged to leave home early. With an early kickoff time, and increased fans traveling with two Kansas teams playing, delays are likely. Common areas for delays at K-State home games are for fans coming from the east on I-70, exiting to K-177 (Exit 313), and fans coming from the K-177/K-18 interchange in south Manhattan. Fans traveling from the west on I-70 may encounter delays at the I-70/K-18 junction (Exit 303). K-18 is under construction near Ogden, and fans are encouraged to use caution in this area. Travelers may notice an increased Patrol presence both before, and after the game. Additional troopers will monitor traffic between Wamego and Manhattan on U.S. 24, and between Topeka and Manhattan on I-70. KHP will also be conducting a saturation patrol in the Riley and Geary County areas. During the saturation patrol, troopers, and sometimes local officers will converge on a specific area looking for any drivers who are impaired. The saturation patrol will begin immediately following the game, and troopers will be working extra hours courtesy of a KDOT-funded grant. Because of construction on the intersection of U.S. 24 and Marlatt Avenue, post-game traffic routes will be altered for some. Those exiting from the east parking lots of the stadium, and those leaving the nearby lot on the northwest corner of Kimball and Denison will be sent east on Kimball Avenue to U.S. 24 (Tuttle Creek Boulevard). The main change will be for traffic heading north on U.S. 24. Drivers will now need to go east on Kimball to the intersection of U.S. 24, and then go north. Troopers and local officers will be controlling the U.S. 24/Kimball intersection on Saturday. A map has been made directing travelers to the appropriate routes while construction is underway, and is posted on www.kansashighwaypatrol.org under 2009 Press Releases, #2009-42. Area law enforcement encourages fans to “Go with the Green,” by reviewing the map and following the designated post-game routes (marked in green). With the number of travelers for game day, the Patrol hopes that a safe weekend can be had by all. Some keys to safety:  Plan to leave early for the game. With an early kickoff, officials are expecting many late arrivals. Make plans beforehand to save you from texting or making calls for last-minute details when your focus should be on the busy roads. Give your keys to a sober driver if you’re planning to drink. Do not ride with an impaired driver, take a cab instead. It’s cheap compared to what you’ll pay if you’re arrested for impaired driving. Travelers should wear their seatbelts and have children in the appropriate child safety seats. Pedestrians should double-check before entering the street and should watch for drivers who might not stop. Likewise, motorists should be prepared for increased pedestrian traffic, and should watch for people entering the streets.