Heavy rains, flooding impacts KDOT construction

May was one of the wettest months Kansas has seen in recent years. Some parts of the state saw more than 20 inches of rain — more than four times the average amount for some areas. 

Greg Schieber, KDOT Bureau Chief of Construction and Materials said that KDOT is currently working through the impact of severe weather on the 2019 construction season.

"Not only has the severe weather impacted the physical work that can be completed on a project, it is also impacting materials supply for projects including aggregate supply and binder supply," Shieber said.   "We are working with contractors now on prioritizing the projects that can be completed this construction season. KDOT also has initiated discussions on the potential of changing late start dates and delaying some projects until the 2020 construction season."

Estimated rainfall for the month of May. Source: NOAA 

Shieber said in some situations, the floodwaters are still too high to assess damages, putting construction projects farther behind. As reported last week, the Lewis and Clark Viaduct is one of those projects. 

Location at Kaw Point, where the Kansas River meets the Missouri River near the Lewis and Clark Viaduct. The Kansas river has pushed the flow of the Missouri river to the north.  

All this additional rainfall only exasperated several rivers that were already full because of heavy snow melt from states farther north. Highways in parts of the state have closed at times due to water covering the surface and that’s not the only problem. This much water has led to delays in maintenance repairs and construction projects across the state.
Joe Palic, KDOT Area Engineer in Marion, is dealing with delays on some construction projects. 

High waters caused K-177 to close between Strong City and Cottonwood Falls last month. 

“The flooding hasn’t been the issue, it’s been the heavy rains that have saturated the job sites and made it tough to work,” Palic said. 

Ashley Tammen, Public Affairs Manager for north central Kansas, also said that for each day of heavy rain means another day lost in highway work as crews work to clean up debris from flooding.

KDOT crews help clear water on K-140 in Saline County last month.

Ron Hall, District Engineer for southwest Kansas, said that weather can have an impact on construction season. “Some projects may take longer to complete, the planned start date for some projects may be delayed,” Hall said. “Schedules and tasks change due the impact of weather events.” 

Delays can also happen because KDOT crews and contractors must spend more time and resources cleaning up debris and tacked on mud on the roadways. 

After the flood waters recede debris can be left behind and KDOT crews work to clear the roads. 

“Pavement can sustain damage from floodwater,” Tom Hein, Public Affairs Manager for south central Kansas said. “Before a highway is reopened, it is checked for damage.” 
Hein also said that while there have been delays on smaller projects, for larger projects it is less of a problem. “It slows down work, but they’ll eventually catch up.”

Damage to K-7 in northeast Kansas from flooding earlier this spring. 

The heavy rains and flooding have also had an impact on normal maintenance activities across the state, like mowing the right of ways. 

Jeff Romine, Area Superintendent for Wamego, said that there are a couple of reasons why crews can’t mow when the ground is saturated.

Heavy rains help grass grow quickly, unfortunately, all the water received has caused the ground to become saturated, which can make mowing efforts difficult. 

“It is harder on the equipment when it is wet due to the equipment falling through muddy area,” Romine said.  “It also causes the mower to pull harder with the mower getting mud stuck between tires and frame of the machine. Mowing when wet leaves large ruts in the ground and then the grass dies, creating more work because we need to haul dirt in and do some landscaping.” 

Romine also added that if KDOT mowing equipment is damaged, it puts crews even farther behind.

Kansas is expected to receive even more rain this week. Please be patient as KDOT crews work when it is safe to do so. Please be aware of flooding risks and check Kandrive.org regularly for road conditions. Remember if you come across a flooded roadway — turn around, don’t drown. 

Make a difference – Adopt a highway

Make a difference in your community and help the environment at the same time – join the Adopt-A-Highway program in Kansas.

“This is such a worthwhile program,” says Heather Brown with the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve.  “It helps keep the beauty of Kansas unmarred and delicate ecosystems undisturbed.”

The goal of the program is to clean along the roadways throughout the state to increase safety for motorists and pedestrians, as well as improve the beauty of Kansas.  This helps to raise awareness on the negative effects of pollution and the positive aspects of a clean community.

Any nonprofit group that does not discriminate upon the basis of race, religion or gender can join and there is no cost to the group.  Members must be at least 11 years old and have adequate adult supervision.  Groups have clean-ups three times a year and are recognized for their efforts with signs marking their sections of highway.  Since spring 1990, thousands of groups have participated and a number of the original groups are still active today.

Adopt-A-Highway groups are gearing up for the annual Clean Up Kansas Campaign which takes place during the month of April.  This event, as well as the program, is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation.  All Adopt-A-Highway groups are encouraged, but not required to participate in the statewide event.

Groups clean their sections of roadway three times a year at their convenience.  Most choose to schedule a clean-up time in the spring, summer and fall.

How you can join: Your group can join by calling your closest KDOT office.  Phone numbers and application forms can be found at the Adopt-A-Highway Website. 

• Volunteers should have the following qualifications before heading out:Good physical condition, including sight and hearing

• Mental alertness - don’t participate if you are tired or drowsy.

• A sense of responsibility for the safety of the public and the crew.

• A willingness to use good common sense.

Called to action: When crashes occur KDOT crews play an important role

I-35 closed for 19 hours: A semitrailer crashed into a median and caught fire on northbound I-35 near Mission Road just after midnight on Feb. 1. Lamar Highway Maintenance Supervisor Rick Looper was the first KDOT employee on the scene to assist in closing both north and south I-35 traffic.

KDOT crews remove a semitrailer from I-35 on February 1. The vehicle crashed near Mission Road in Kansas City, which prompted officials to close parts of the highway for 19 hours. 

The closure distance around the crash site changed at times due to toxic fumes from the fire and cargo, Looper said, but it was necessary to keep portions of I-35 closed for about 19 hours. Four KDOT Equipment Operators, three impact attenuators and a truck with a message board helped direct traffic.

Haz-Mat crews work to clean and clear the scene after a semitrailer crashed on I-35. The vehicle crashed near Mission Road in Kansas City, which prompted officials to close parts of the high for 19 hours.

“Our responsibility is to close the highway down to keep the traveling public away from the danger of the fire and accident scene,” he said. “We also provide a safe working environment for the fire department, local police, KHP, haz-mat crew, clean-up crew and tow trucks and protect the scene for investigative purposes.” 

Closing highways is always a challenge, Looper said. “We have many locations with ramps and interchanges that can get congested real fast with traffic backups,” he said. “Closing a major highway is not always popular with the traveling public, but we do this for safety reasons. We want to be in and out as quickly as possible with little to no impact to traffic, but that does not always happen as with this crash involving hazardous materials.”

It’s important to know how, when and where to deploy KDOT employees to be safe and effective in situations like the Feb. 1 crash. “We have to be quick in responding and quick in closing a highway,” Looper said. “We put our lives on the line each and every day that we step out on the highway. My safety and the safety for my crew comes first while planning out my road closure.”