KDOT lets project to reconstruct pavement on U.S. 169 in southeast Kansas

KDOT will begin a pavement reconstruction on U.S. 169 in Allen County this spring. The 7.2-mile project begins five miles north of the Neosho-Allen county line and ends 2.7 miles south of U.S. 54 at Iola.

A project to reconstruct the pavement on a section of U.S. 169 in Allen County was included in KDOT’s February letting. Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc., of Kansas City, Mo., was the apparent low bidder on the $17 million improvement.

The U.S. 169 concrete driving surface has deteriorated since it was constructed close to 40 years ago.

The scope of the work involves replacing the mainline concrete driving pavement and the pavement on interchange ramps. The project begins at Delaware Road, located approximately five miles north of the Neosho-Allen county line, and continues north for just over seven miles to Minnesota Road. Work is expected to begin in late spring and continue into 2019. During construction traffic will be placed on a signed detour along U.S. 54, U.S. 75 and K-39.

Numerous cracks in the U.S. 169 pavement have required considerable maintenance through the years.

This stretch of U.S. 169 in Allen County was built with concrete in the early 1980’s. Heavy traffic use and varied weather conditions have resulted in numerous driving surface imperfections. In previous years these flaws were smoothed out by a process known as diamond grinding, which helped preserve the pavement while limiting disruptions to traffic. A full pavement replacement is now necessary. The reconstruction will take place within the existing highway right-of-way.

This photo shows diamond grinding on U.S. 169 in Neosho County, performed during 2017. Several times in previous years diamond grinding has been used on the Allen County highway pavement to smooth out imperfections.

“Because I know someone who is still with KDOT who provided inspection on this project when it was initially constructed, it doesn’t seem like it but, that pavement is approaching 40 years old,” said Jim Metcalfe, KDOT Southeast District Construction Engineer. “Maintaining it to an acceptable standard has become increasingly difficult in recent years and it will be a relief to our maintenance personnel to have this pavement replaced.”