KDOT project wins "Sweet Sixteen" award from AASHTO

KU Professors Dr.Robert Parsons, State Transportation Engineer Burt Morey and Dr. Jie Han who coordinated graduate student Mustapha Rahmaninezhad's research on the Software for Load Distrubution on Low-Fill Box Culverts project, which earned KDOT a 2019 Sweet 16 Research award.

By Mallory Aye, KDOT Headquarters

Project presented award: A KDOT project was presented with a “Sweet Sixteen” High Value Research award at the 2019 National Research Advisory Committee and TRB State Representatives Meeting, which took place July 22–25 in Santa Fe, N.M.

The research project K-TRAN: KU-16-5, Software for Load Distribution on Low-Fill Box Culverts: User’s Manual, was conducted by University of Kansas Professors Jie Han and Robert Parsons with graduate students Seyed Mustapha Rahmaninezhad and Fei Wang in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering.

Structures and Geotechnical Services Chief Calvin Reed recognizes the Bridge Evaluation team on Nov. 4 at the Materials and Research Lab for their role in the K-TRAN research project and the related software that they routinely use. 

The project team was successful in developing a stress distribution program to better test the various forms of stress that may affect shallowly buried culverts. The program was designed to compute the Equivalent Live Load Distribution Factor (ELLDF) for distributed loads, distributed area and distributed stress on buried box structures. 

This data is compatible to be input into current AASHTO design software to better determine how pavement affects load distribution onto buried box culverts.

The “Sweet Sixteen” award exists as part of an initiative by the AASHTO Research Advisory Committee to identify and document recently completed “High Value Research” projects. Every year, states are asked to submit research projects of recognizable qualitative or quantitative benefit for consideration. The Sweet Sixteen award recipients are selected from the qualifying high value projects, with four projects being chosen from each of the four AASHTO regions.

Transportation Secretary named to two prestigious national boards

Kansas Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz
was appointed to the Executive Committee of the
Transportation Research Board and will chair
a national Aviation Board. 

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board and will chair a national Aviation Board.

Lorenz recently was asked to join the Executive Committee of the prestigious Transportation Research Board (TRB) to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange that is objective, interdisciplinary and multi-modal.

“This invitation is extended upon the recommendation of the Chairman and the Executive Director of the Transportation Research Board, and with my approval,” said Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences and chair of the National Research Council.

The TRB is an integral part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The institution, which Congress established in 1863, is a nonprofit, charitable scientific corporation organized and operated to serve public rather than private interests.

“Secretary Lorenz’s selection to these esteemed industry trade roles is recognition of her national expertise and leadership on transportation issues. She brings a wealth of knowledge and transportation experience to these important committees,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “Not only will she represent our state’s transportation and aviation industry well, she’ll also be a key contributor to efforts that help the entire transportation sector move forward.”

Lorenz also was selected to chair the Council on Aviation for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). AASHTO will assess and recommend policies related to aviation legislation and regulation. This organization works jointly with the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) to recommend aviation policy.

“The importance of aviation policy is increasing as we enter an era of unprecedented growth of integrated manned and unmanned operations across our national airspace,” said Secretary Lorenz. “Active leadership in this space will ensure Kansas stakeholders in the aviation industry are fully represented.”

Johnson County Gateway named one of nation’s top transportation projects

The Johnson County Gateway Project Phase two was KDOT's first design-build project.

KDOT’s Johnson County Gateway Phase 2 project has been named one of the Top 12 national finalists in the 2017 America’s Transportation Awards competition.

The $288 million project, the first and largest design-build transportation project completed in Kansas, emerged as a finalist out of a record 92 project nominations from 38 states. The Johnson County Gateway project will now compete for the grand prize and the People’s Choice Award.

The grand prize will be determined by an independent panel of transportation industry experts. The People’s Choice Award will be decided by online popular vote, with votes scaled to state populations. Online voting is now underway and continues through midnight on Thursday, Sept. 21. Kansans are encouraged to cast a vote for the project by visiting the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) website at http://AmericasTransportationAwards.org. Individuals can vote once a day.

“The Johnson County Gateway is a vital economic corridor, not only for the region but for the state of Kansas,” said Gov. Sam Brownback. “As the improvements achieved through this project encourage new development opportunities and job growth, the economic benefit is expected to exceed $1 billion over the next two decades. I am pleased to see the Gateway recognized as one of the top transportation projects in the nation.”

“We are honored to see this project receive national recognition,” said Transportation Secretary Richard Carlson. “The design-build team worked hard to minimize the impact on travelers, ultimately completing the project six months ahead of schedule. The Gateway improvements address more than 90 percent of the traffic problems in the project area, and we are excited to celebrate its success.”

The Johnson County Gateway included reconstruction and capacity improvements within the I-435, I-35 and K-10 interchange area along with improvements at several major local interchanges. Within the project area, there were 56 new lane miles added as well as 22 new and five rehabilitated bridges, including three new two-lane flyover bridge ramps and widened bridges on I-435 and I-35.

The America’s Transportation Awards competition is celebrating its 10^th year and is sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Two KDOT projects named regional winners in America's Transportation Awards Competition

Two major Kansas Department of Transportation projects that were completed in Overland Park and Lawrence last year were announced yesterday as regional winners in the 2017 America’s Transportation Awards competition.

An aerial view of the Johnson County Gateway I-35 and 95th Street Diverging Diamond Interchange. The JoCo Gateway tied for first in the "Operations Excellence, large project" category at the America's Transportation Awards.

KDOT’s Johnson County Gateway Phase 2 project, the first and largest design-build transportation project completed in Kansas, tied for first in the “Operations Excellence, large project” category. The K-10 South Lawrence Trafficway East Leg was selected the regional winner in the “Operations Excellence, medium project” category. Both projects will now be considered for inclusion as national finalists to compete for the Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Award.

An aerial view of the South Lawrence Trafficway at the Haskell Avenue Interchange in Lawrence. The SLT was the regional winner in the "Operations Excellence, medium project"  category at the America's Transportation Awards.

“These well-deserved awards are a testament to the excellence of Kansas highways,” said Gov. Sam Brownback. “Our state highway system is one of the best in the nation, and Kansas will continue to see the benefits from these projects for years to come as they serve commuters and facilitate commerce in vital economic corridors for the state.”

Transportation Secretary Richard Carlson said, “I am proud of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by KDOT professionals to help make these projects successful. From the beginning of the planning process to a project’s completion, our staff is committed to pursuing excellence every step of the way, and the Johnson County Gateway and South Lawrence Trafficway were no exceptions. These projects are great examples of KDOT’s commitment to providing a highway system that meets the needs of Kansans.”

Aerial view of the I-35/I-435 Interchange two-lane flyover. The JoCo Gateway tied for first in the
"Operations Excellence, large project" category at the America's Transportation Awards

“Every project nominated in this competition represents the hard work and dedication of state DOTs across the country to meet the transportation needs of the communities we serve,” said David Bernhardt, president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. “For 10 consecutive years, the America’s Transportation Awards have given state DOTs the recognition they deserve for providing the essential connections that keep people, goods and our economy moving forward.”

An aerial view of the South Lawrence Trafficway. The SLT was the regional winner in the "Operations Excellence, medium project"  category at the America's Transportation Awards

The Johnson County Gateway project included reconstruction and capacity improvements within the I-435, I-35 and K-10 interchange area along with improvements at several major local interchanges. Within the project area, there were 56 new lane miles added as well as 22 new and five rehabilitated bridges, including three new two-lane flyover bridge ramps and widened bridges on I-435 and I-35.

The South Lawrence Trafficway East Leg included construction of a new four-lane, six-mile freeway around the east side of Lawrence, connecting the existing K-10 with the new highway. Construction work included 24 bridges, 29.4 highway lane miles, 16.3 miles of local roads and three new interchanges.

The America’s Transportation Awards competition is celebrating its 10^th year and is sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.