Inside a KDOT maintenance shop

At any point during the year, you may see maintenance crews working along highways or clearing roads to keep Kansas moving. But have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in a Kansas Department of Transportation maintenance shop?

A slope mower was being worked on at the KDOT
District One Area Four Shop in Topeka. 

At the KDOT District One, Area Four Shop in Topeka, miracles and memories are being made every day, according to James “Jim Bob” Beauchamp, a KDOT Equipment Mechanic.

When we visited the shop, there were a few agency machines that were being worked on. A slope mower was being modified for the specialized purpose of maintaining landscape upkeep in Kansas’ capital city.

Manufactured in 2009, the slope mower reaches challenging mowing places easily and keeps the Topeka area looking its best.  Because the rocky slopes of Topeka can be difficult to mow, KDOT mechanics are strengthening their original slope mower. According to Jim Bob, the frame of the mower was cracked from the stress it was put under. In addition to ordering a new frame, the KDOT mechanics also had the frame welded in short segments and then welded it to reinforce the frame and enhance its durability. They were also rebuilding the engine of the slope mower.

A Bobcat was being worked on at the KDOT  District One Area Four 

Shop in Topeka. 

Mechanics at the shop were also working on a Bobcat. This piece of machinery is used for maintenance, such as digging holes, cleaning up job sites, concrete patching, asphalt repair, removing brush and lifting and loading trucks using fork attachments.

The Bobcat was in the shop because it needed a new drive motor. The machine is powered by hydraulics and needs the drive motor to pump oil.

According to Jim Bob, once the drive motor is set in place, the hydraulic pump provides motive power to work. The drive motor propels the machine forward, and pumps oil. This part is also important because it gives the machine turning ability and allows it to spin around.

KDOT employees across the state work hard in all our district and area shops, and they are essential to the work the agency does for Kansans. By providing important maintenance to state equipment, they help keep Kansas moving.