Set in stone: Concrete pavement patching extends life of Kansas roads

Bryant & Bryant Construction crew members use a concrete saw to score the pavement in a rectangular shape. 

By Donna Tollerton,

Public Affairs Manager, northcentral Kansas 

Concrete pavement patching plays a critical role in extending the life of our roads. A recent example of this type of project took place in Saline County on I-135.

The process starts with KDOT crews marking the areas that need to be patched by the contractor. This allows our crews to specify the amount of concrete needed and helps make sure all areas are patched.

A concrete saw is then brought in to score the pavement in the shape of a rectangle. This shape is important because the patches are rectangular for ease of constructability, requiring less manual labor. They generally last for about seven to 10 years. 

Crews patch concrete to extend the life of the road surface. 

After the concrete saw carves out the shape, a milling machine is used to break up the existing concrete. This process is completed by hand with jack hammers because the machine can't cut square corners. After this process is finished, the concrete is then poured in place.

Remember, if you see highway workers to slow down, move over and give them room to work. 

A handheld jackhammer is able to reach the sharp corners of the shape.  

Coffeyville’s Dalton Defenders Museum

Coffeyville's Dalton Defenders Museum is filled with
memorabilia from the raid and the city's early days.

       After robbing a string of trains, members of the notorious Dalton gang decided to up the stakes. Vowing to “beat anything Jesse James ever did …”, the gang made plans to rob two banks at the same time, in the light of day. Cash in hand, they would skip the country and begin new lives in South America.

All the Dalton gang members passed away in the battle
except Emmett Dalton, who is shown in the upper left
corner of the photo.

       Their plan was not a success. On Oct. 5, 1892, brothers Grat, Bob and Emmett Dalton and fellow gang members Dick Broadwell and Bill Power tried to disguise themselves as they approached the C.M. Condon and Company Bank and the First National Bank, located on the opposite sides of a downtown street in Coffeyville. But a citizen recognized them and alerted other residents. Then a crafty bank clerk delayed the theft by fibbing that the safe was on a time lock and couldn’t be opened right away. This delay gave the locals time to prepare for a battle. The ensuing bloody shootout left four of the gang members and three Coffeyville residents dead.

       The famous Dalton gun battle and the citizens who defended the town are remembered at Coffeyville’s Dalton Defenders Museum. The museum houses a treasure trove of photos and memorabilia from the raid and Coffeyville’s early days. Looming large in the center room is the well-known photograph of the four dead Dalton gang members stretched out in an alley, while a lively lad named Ray Clark peers through the fence in an historic photo bomb. The Winchester rifle seen in the enlarged photo rests in a glass case to the side.

       Emmett Dalton, who survived the raid despite 23 gunshot wounds, is pictured at the upper left corner of the photo. Sentenced to life in prison at Leavenworth, Emmett proved a model inmate and was pardoned after only 14 years. Upon his release he moved to California and became an upstanding citizen in the real estate business, also working as an actor and screenwriter.

       The Dalton Defenders Museum is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., and is staffed by knowledgeable local guides. To date the museum has hosted thousands of visitors from all 50 states and around the world. 

       Visitors can first relive history at the museum at 113 E. 8^th Street, and then step outside to tour the Dalton Raid Site at the Old Condon Bank, 807 Walnut, and the Death Alley and Jail in the 800 block of Walnut Street.

Inside KDOT: Meet Catherine Patrick, State Transportation Engineer

By Mallory Goeke,

KDOT Communications Specialist 

The Transportation Blog is starting a new series called, “Inside KDOT,” that will highlight people and their roles at the agency that help keep Kansas moving. KDOT employs about 2,500 people who each play a part in planning, constructing and maintaining the state’s infrastructure.

The series kicks off with Catherine Patrick, State Transportation Engineer for KDOT. She earned her civil engineering degree from Kansas State University and has been with the agency for nearly 30 years.

We had the chance to ask her a few questions for our new series: Inside KDOT. This new series will highlight some of the individuals and roles that make up the agency that helps keep Kansas moving. 

Catherine Patrick, State Transportation Engineer

Q: When did you decide you wanted to be an engineer?

A: I am not sure when the concept came together. I began taking math and science classes and decided being an engineer would be a good use of those resources. I started out studying electrical engineering, then quickly found out I was a visual person, plus I enjoyed being outside, and I found civil engineering was a good fit.

Q. How important are engineers to Kansas?

A. Transportation engineers are important to our society and economy. Engineers design, build and maintain our roads, bridges and all modes of transportation. These are all necessary as we continue to design and build to meet the future needs for mobility.

Q. Why did you decide to work for KDOT?

A. KDOT was hiring field engineers and being involved with the construction of roads and bridges sounded interesting.

Q. How did you move up in the agency? 

A. I started as a project engineer for nine years then I was promoted to Construction Engineer where I stayed for five years — all in the Kansas City metro area. I decided to take a Professional Civil Engineer II position in Topeka working in the Bureau of Construction & Maintenance in the Change Order Section. I spent about a year and a half at that position. An opportunity to go back to the field came up as a Metro Engineer in Topeka so I had that position for another year and a half. I also had a small stint as the Metro Engineer in Bonner Springs, followed by being the District One Engineer. At that time there was a lot of movement in KDOT and folks were retiring. In 2007, I came back inside as the Director of the Division of Operations and stayed in that position until the summer of 2016 when I took my current position as State Transportation Engineer.

Q. What are some major projects you have had the opportunity to work on?

A. As a project engineer there were several projects in the Kansas City metro area, one was the Quivira Road Viaduct over I-35 in Johnson County. This was an exciting project because it was not just a reconstruction and expansion project, like many of the types we do. This was a new alignment connecting 87^th Street to 91^st over I-35 in Lenexa. Another project in this same area was the 87^th Street and I-35 Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) project.

Q. What is your favorite part about working for the agency?

A. My favorite part is the people that I have worked with at KDOT. I have had an opportunity to work with many employees here and with others doing work for KDOT. I have learned a lot and hopefully contributed to their learning as well. I would say “variety is the spice of life” and every day there are new challenges.

Q. What do you want to say to other women and girls who are interested in becoming engineers? Any advice?

A. I would say “Why not?” It’s not about what you are, but who you are as an engineer.

Keep a positive outlook, don’t sell yourself short, learn from others at all levels, don’t be afraid to ask questions and always be open to new challenges.

#IAMKDOT: Tim Nichols

Challenges and problem solving often come with the job. For Tim Nichols, KDOT Engineering Technician Specialist from Syracuse, the challenges and problem solving that come with KDOT’s larger projects are the best part of his job. 

After attending Dodge City Community College, Nichols returned to his hometown of Syracuse and spent time working in auto body repair and at the local grocery store. He then began with KDOT as an Engineering Technician Associate. Nichols is responsible for inspecting highway projects, authorizing contractor payments and overseeing contractors and construction projects so the work meets KDOT specifications. He says the best part of his job is the challenges that come up on larger projects and the problem solving that goes into finding a solution. Nichols has been named District Inspector of the Year once and Area Inspector of the Year three times during his 20 years with KDOT.

Nichols is always busy. You might find him out inspecting bridges or highways during the day, and you may also find him checking a stoplight at midnight on a holiday to make sure it works properly. He also assists with flagging traffic in the in the dead of night during power outages or meets a crew at the concrete plant at 3:30 a.m. to prepare for a concrete pour.  

And while Nichols truly enjoys his work, what he enjoys the most is using his talents to help others. Nichols serves his church as the Legacy Youth Ministry Director and as a trustee on the local Board of Administration of the Syracuse Wesleyan Church. He also volunteers as the sound technician for Syracuse High School basketball games, plays, concerts and special events, is a founding member of the Syracuse Sand Park board, is a builder, auto mechanic, sound technician and volunteer dad, uncle and grandpa. He enjoys playing the bass and guitar, working on cars and woodworking.

Water issues addressed in test sites along U.S. 169 project in Allen County

A solar panel and data logger is installed at a U.S.169 testing site to monitor the ongoing effectiveness of the geotextile fabric.

By Priscilla Petersen,
Southeast Kansas Public Affairs Manager

U.S. 169 is currently closed between Humboldt and Iola for reconstruction of the pavement. The driving surface on the highway section had deteriorated significantly through the years and is now being rebuilt, starting at the base.

KDOT has installed rolls of wicking geotextile fabric on top of the roadway subgrade at two test sections along the U.S. 169 pavement reconstruction project in Allen County.

According to KDOT Pavement Design Leader Ryan Barrett, water plays a major factor in many cases of distressed highway pavement throughout the state of Kansas. To address moisture issues on U.S. 169, two 1,000-foot-long test sections of wicking geotextile fabric have been installed on the project. Barrett said that removing water and reducing moisture in the base and subgrade soils can minimize pavement distresses and prolong the life of the pavement.

A moisture sensor is installed.

He said the geotextile fabric has been used successfully on projects in other states, and is a promising technology for dealing with moisture problems in roadways. Moisture and temperature sensors with data loggers have been set up on the test sections to monitor the effectiveness of the wicking geotextile fabric. The data collected from the sensors and other testing processes will be used to evaluate performance of wicking geotextile for moisture reduction.

Lake Scott State Park

The beauty of Lake Scott State Park can be seen throughout the area.

There are 26 archeological sites in and near the park.

Just north of Scott City and west of U.S. 83 on K-95 lies Lake Scott State Park, a ruggedly beautiful oasis hidden in Ladder Creek Canyon. The 1,020-acre park surrounds the 100-acre, spring-fed Scott State Fishing Lake. The beautifully wooded valley surrounded by chalk bluffs and rocky crags is a stunning surprise that lies in sharp contrast to the dry lands and prairie the area is known for. 

The native sandstone house built in 1888 is now a museum.

According to ksoutdoors.com, the park is listed by National Geographic as one of the country’s must-see state parks and is one of the most historic locations in Kansas with 26 archeological sites documented in and adjacent to the park. The park is home to the remains of northernmost known Native American pueblo – El Cuartelejo which was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970. The pueblo was built in the 1600s by Taos Indians from northern New Mexico who came to Kansas to escape the Spanish. They dug irrigation ditches, planted crops and shared the site with their Apache friends for 20 years. The Pueblo was later occupied by Picuris Indians. 

An aerial view of the park.

In 1888, Herbert Steele homesteaded in the area, building the Steele home in 1909. This four-room house of native sandstone is now a museum displaying furniture and tools used by the early settlers of Scott County. Herbert and wife Eliza donated their property to the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission in 1928. 

The park is open to camping, boating, swimming, hiking, hunting and fishing and offers trails for hiking, horseback riding and opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitats including wild turkey, deer, bobcat and beaver. 

 

 

 

 

New projects announced for U.S. 69 and K-99

Kansas is an important state. We grow and raise food that feeds the world and more than $600 million worth of freight moves across our state every day. Parts of the state are seeing an increase in traffic volumes and the need for economic development have also made it obvious that infrastructure updates are needed.

Those who live and travel in Kansas are about to see some improvements to U.S. 69 and K-99. And although these highways are in different parts of the state, the updates will provide crucial benefits.

Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. announces U.S. 69 improvements in Crawford County. 

U.S. 69 in Crawford County

Two U.S. 69 projects were announced yesterday, and they are in the Crawford County Corridor. A combined $57.4 million will expand 11.5 miles of U.S. 69 to a 4-lane upgradable expressway for those who travel out of Pittsburg north to the Bourbon County Line. Studies have shown a nearly consistent growth in vehicle traffic and a steady increase is projected. This expressway will increase capacity and support economic development in the area while relieving traffic density concerns around the community of Pittsburg.  

It is thanks to the legislature’s commitment to modernizing and expanding transportation infrastructure across the state that both delayed T-WORKS projects are now moving forward.

The estimated letting date for the southern section is Fall 2019 and Fall 2020 for the northern section. KDOT is currently acquiring right of way for this project.

Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. announces K-99 improvements at the Caterpillar facility in Wamego.

K-99 Wamego Project

Another project announced yesterday was the K-99 Wamego Project. The city of Wamego, Caterpillar and KDOT have worked together for more than eight years to support the economic development of the area through joint solutions to address an immediate need to route commercial traffic to an improved bypass. KDOT will provide $3.5 million of the $8 million that will help the county sustain its economic growth and improve the quality of life for the residents of Wabaunsee County.

Secretary of Transportation Richard Carlson and Governor Colyer discuss the K-99 project with locals. 

A segment of K-99 between Wamego and I-70 has been identified for improvements. This section of road will be straightened out and flattened to meet current design standards. Wider shoulders will also be added. The combined improvements will create better stopping distance and help drivers see farther away. This project is nearly four miles long and it will cost around $18.8 million to complete.

These projects are a perfect example of KDOT working with locals to improve our great state.

Kansas officials tour the Caterpillar facility as seen through this photo of a mirror from one of the Caterpillar machines. 

This project is expected to let in Fall 2020 and will last 18 months. KDOT will begin acquiring right of way later this summer.

STEM camp empowers students to build the future

Students will have an opportunity to build a solar powered car like this from last year's STEM camp. 

By Mallory Goeke
KDOT Communications Specialist

Building the future of our country may begin at a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) camp such as the one that the Kansas Department of Transportation and Washburn University are sponsoring during the next two weeks in Topeka.

Robyn Dudney, a program consultant for KDOT, said that each week, about 25 middle school students will learn about different STEM careers, including transportation industry opportunities.

“The campers will do various hands-on activities and tour local facilities,” Dudney said.  “Some of the activities include building and programming robotics, building solar cars, tinker computer aided devices, developing solid fuel rockets, design and build electric boats, which will be tested in the Washburn pool.”

Students will build robotic cars. 

At the end of the week, each camper will showcase their projects to family and friends. Secretary of Transportation Secretary Richard Carlson will speak to the students and their families at the end of the first week.

Students also will have opportunities to learn from experts when they tour the KDOT materials lab and Washburn Tech. Dudney said they will have the chance to explore how construction equipment is operated.

“This is the second year for the camp,” Dudney said. “Last year the camp lasted two weeks with the same students. This year we decided to hold two one-week camps, so we can reach out to more children.”

The program is funded by KDOT in conjunction with Washburn University. KDOT’s Office of Civil Rights Compliance plays an active role in the day-to-day activities of the camp.

Desert your cars and go on an adventure at the Sand Hills State Park

By Laurie Arellano,
Interim Communications Director and District 1 Public Affairs Manager

Just off the TransAmerica bike trail in Hutchinson, drivers on Old K-61 will see “Share the Road” signs as bikers head to Sand Hills State Park to experience over 14 miles of trails on the 1,123 acres of preserved sand dunes, grassland, wetland and woodlands

For those who love the look and feel of desert sand but want all the humidity that Kansas is famous for, Sand Hills State Park is where you want to hike or bike.

Sand Hills State Park proudly proclaims it has more sand than most deserts. Dunes between 10 and 40 feet high were formed by wind-deposited sands from the Arkansas River at the end of the Ice Age and are now covered with native grasses and plants.

A total of eight trails, one of which is an interpretive trail and a total of four of which are designated equestrian trails, weave across the prairie, along water features, and among native flora and fauna.  Biking and hiking are allowed on all trails, but the hiking trails are more suitable for biking unless riders have fatbikes to conquer the very soft, loose sand on the equestrian trails.

The 14 miles of trails run deep into the park. In the heat and humidity of central Kansas, carrying water is going to be a must, as the workout walking, riding or pushing a bike through the loose sand is harder than it looks.  But the view of the natural prairie from the top of the dunes is worth the trip in and up to the top.  Some trails offer a cooler trip through primarily woodland sections of the park.

Transport yourself back to untouched prairie sculpted by natural forces from long-ago and take a walk or a ride through Sand Hills State Park. 

Sternberg Museum



One of the most famous fossils at the Sternberg Museum in Hays.

Many of the displays at the museum are very realistic as seen in the photos above and below.

Make no bones about it, the Sternberg Museum in Hays ranks among the best natural history museums in the country in terms of scientific holdings.

The museum is home to one of the top collections of Cretaceous marine and Neogene terrestrial vertebrate fossils. It also features an excellent assembly of Pteranodon material, the largest collection of fossil grass seeds and an assortment of modern biological material, mammals, reptiles and plants.

Perhaps its most famous display is an exceptionally well-preserved Gillicus within a Xiphactinus, or better known as the Fish-within-a-Fish. The unique find was discovered by the museum’s namesake George F. Sternberg and shows a large 14-foot fish with its last meal, a six-foot fish, fully intact inside of it.

Other attractions include a realistic Cretaceous diorama (watch out for the T-rex!) and a fossil dig pit. Many areas of the museum encourage hands-on interaction including its Discovery Room, where visitors can explore drawers full of touchable specimens from the Great Plains, climb on Charlotte the Spider and view a variety of live animal exhibits, including native snakes, turtles, lizards and fish.

In addition to its permanent displays, the Sternberg also hosts temporary exhibits and various events throughout the year. Visit the museum website at http://sternberg.fhsu.edu for more exhibition and event information.

What will you discover under the dome at the Sternberg Museum?

 

KDOT crews assisted with Eureka tornado clean up

KDOT crews assist with picking up debris left behind from a tornado that moved through Eureka. 

An EF-3 tornado hit the town of Eureka on June 26 causing damage to the high school, houses, trees, power lines and the Kansas Department of Transportation Eureka Subarea office.

KDOT Area offices in El Dorado, Iola and Independence sent numerous employees, several dump trucks, message boards, loaders, barricades, a track hoe and a skid steer to assist in the clean-up efforts.

KDOT storage buildings sustained heavy damage from the tornado. A complete renovation to these buildings is scheduled for later this year. 

After helping the citizens of Eureka with clean-up efforts KDOT employees began cleaning and clearing their subarea maintenance office at Eureka. On a hot and muggy day in early July, several crew members could be seen sweeping away debris and relocating various objects that the twister’s high winds had flung far and wide on the grounds.

Equipment Operator Senior Roy Junkersfeld (right) and Equipment Operator Billy Jones (left) pick up debris left behind at the Eureka Subarea.

This year’s tornado was the second to strike Eureka in a two-year period. Eight people were injured. Seventy-eight residences either sustained significant damage or were completely destroyed. The tornado inflicted considerable damage on the subarea’s chemical storage and equipment storage buildings, wash bay, salt dome and office. Sultry daytime temperatures in the aftermath of the tornado, combined with long hours of community clean-up and little sleep, left the crew members “just exhausted,” said Subarea Supervisor Jeff Marks. Adding more hardship to conditions was a two-day power outage in the city.

State Transportation Engineer Catherine Patrick and Operations Director Larry Thompson visit Eureka to survey the tornado damage of the cold storage building. 

Yet thanks to dedicated KDOT staff, the bruised and battered subarea continues to carry out its work. On a brighter note, a complete renovation of the subarea is scheduled for later this year. Director of Operations Larry Thompson said that he was impressed with the clean up efforts.  

"Immediately after the tornado passed, the Eureka Subarea Supervisor Jeff Marks, walked into the shop area – because he could not drive due to downed power lines and trees – and started securing the site," Thompson said.  "This included shutting off the gas supply which was leaking due to a broken pipe and dealing with an oil spill to keep it out of the local waterway. Then as the crew trickled in, the Citywide clean up efforts began. When we were there on Friday, the Eureka crew and equipment from District 4 shops and District 5 were actively clearing the streets and hauling debris. Just like that was normal business and it certainly was not normal."

KDOT crew members clean up after a tornado damaged the Eureka Subarea. 

After the tornado struck, KDOT closed a 21-mile section of U.S. 54 for several hours. With power lines down, KDOT employees couldn’t access the Eureka shop until June 28, Iola Superintendent Derrick Shannon said. 

That's so hot! Surface recycling extends life of highways

Surface recycling is one of the ways KDOT can extend the life of a road.

By Deb Gruver,

South Central Kansas Public Affairs Manager

Have you ever seen a surface recycling operation in action? You may have but just didn’t know it. 

Surface recycling produces a layer of rejuvenated asphalt on the road surface.

Surface recycling produces a layer of rejuvenated, uncracked asphalt on the road surface. This technique is a process that is 100 percent recycled. It removes the existing crack pattern in the layer and evens out any bumps or depressions on the surface.

The road surface is heated up and melted.

With several moving pieces, it's an impressive sight. Resembling a train, an assembly of machinery heats up the existing asphalt on the road, scoops it up, mixes it with oil, spreads it back out on the roadway and then rolls it flat. Propane is used to heat the asphalt indirectly, though flames can be seen on the underbelly of that portion of the “train.”

The melted road surface is scooped up. 

Imagine working on asphalt in July in Kansas — hot no matter what the project. Then imagine working aboard machinery that literally melts the roadway. 

The road surface is rolled out and spread flat. It is now a rejuvenated and crack-free surface. 

In these photos, subcontractor Bettis Asphalt works on the recycling phase of a $3,493,290 project on K-4 stretching from the Ness/Rush county line to the Rush/Barton county line. Nearly 37 miles will get this treatment, and then Venture Corporation of Great Bend, the primary contractor, will place an overlay on top of what's been recycled.

Artful walk: Wichita State University's sculpture collection provides healthy activity

By Tom Hein,

Wichita Metro Public Affairs Manager

Tres Mujeres Caminando (Three Women Walking)  by Francisco Zuniga 

Combining outdoor walking and art appreciation is a healthy way to enrich the body and the mind. On the campus of Wichita State University, 76 sculptures are spread across the 330-acre campus, inviting walkers to discover a diverse collection – and improve their health.

Millipede by Tom Otterness.

There are works by famous artists – Auguste Rodin, Joan Miro, Henry Moore and others – but who created them is less important than how you experience the pieces as you walk around them.

Bust of Renoir by Aristide Maillol

Summer, albeit rather warm, is a great time to visit the campus and tour the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection. With only summer school in session, there are plenty of free parking spots. Stop by the university’s Ulrich Museum of Art for a map of the collection or check it out online at http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=ulrichmuseum&p=/art/outdoorsculpturecollection/.

Man with Cane by Fernando Botero

Visiting all 76 pieces of art will be good for your heart – in more ways than one!

City of Atchison

The Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge shines at night in aesthetic lighting. 

The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum.

Just about an hour north of Topeka, sitting on the banks of the Missouri River, Atchison is home to an international legend and a continuing inspiration to young women considering going into the sciences, technology, engineering and mechanical career fields.

To get to Atchison, birthplace of Amelia Earhart, K-4 out of Topeka offers wide open views of the horizon as drivers pass the farmland Kansas is so famous for. Or the Glacial Hills Scenic Byway, that runs along 63 miles of K-7 north and south of Atchison, has landscaped scenery to admire. Entering Atchison, the highway becomes the Skyway Highway.  Stay on the Skyway Highway and you end up at the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge, a beautiful 2,500-foot tied-arch structure with wide lanes, bike paths and aesthetic lighting, which is a recently-completed joint project of the Kansas and Missouri DOTs.

Above, a tall Amelia Earhart impersonator
 walks along downtown during the annual
Amelia Earhart festival. Below, the riverfront
is packed with people enjoying the festival.

But the main attraction in Atchison is its distinction as the birthplace of Amelia Earhart, which is celebrated annually during Visit Atchison’s Amelia Earhart Festival.  The festival, which this year is July 20 and 21, celebrates spirit of legendary aviatrix Amelia Earhart with a downtown music, food and crafts fair, star-filled outdoor concert, children’s activities, carnival, awards and honors, Earhart research and literature, music on the beautiful Riverfront, aerobatic performances and the “Concert in the Sky” fireworks show.

This year’s festival celebrates the 90^th anniversary of Earhart becoming the first woman to make a solo round trip flight across the United States.  That year, she was also the first woman to make the trip across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger. 

In addition to food, music, sights and speakers, the festival also features a fly-in and air show and tours of the historic Santa Fe Depot and of course, an open house at Earhart’s birthplace overlooking the Missouri River.

Motor on up to Atchison anytime, but plan to visit during the celebration of a Kansas hero, innovator and trail blazer who truly embodied ‘to the stars and beyond.’