Bank stabilization repair one of many approved October projects

Construction on the Ninnescah Riverbank in Summer 2017 was the first phase of this erosion prevention project. 

The second phase of an emergency repair project near the Ninnescah River in Sumner County was one of more than 50 project bids approved in the Oct. 17 letting. This emergency repair project will help protect the area from flooding.

In 1986, a project was designed to reconstruct the Ninnescah riverbank to help reduce erosion in this area. The project included the installation of 15 steel pile jetties to assist with erosion prevention. Of the 15 jetties installed, six of them were later found to be slanted and all of them showed significant corrosion. In fact, comparing satellite pictures from 2002 and 2017, demonstrates the bank was still displaying signs of erosion even though jetties were in place.  

In September 2016 massive rainfall amounts caused the Ninnescah River to swell and flood U.S. 81 and K-55. KDOT saw a need to address this area. In mid-2017, the first emergency repair phase took place. That project focused on the area right along the highway where the highest chance of a slide could take place if another significant flood were to happen. Rock was placed to armor the toe of the slope, followed by a bed, filter and an additional stone layer to reconstruct and armor the bank.

The second phase of the emergency repair will focus on the remaining jetties that are not immediately adjacent to the highway. This phase will also include a significant amount of stone to be placed to armor the toe of the slope. Instead of just relying solely on rock, KDOT will plant willow trees, which will create root systems to give the slope a living protection against erosion.

Dondlinger & Sons Construction Co., INC., of Wichita is the contractor working on the $879,046.25 project.

To see the various stages of this project, click here.

To read more about the other approved projects, click here.  

KDOT crews and contractors awarded

The Kansas Contractors Association and KDOT handed out its partnering awards recently for the 2017 heavy highway construction season.

The awards highlight the multitude of ways contractors and KDOT employees work together to ensure the best outcome on projects.

Receiving awards were:

                  

District 1 in Northeast Kansas

One-inch cold mill with one-inch overlay: Bettis Asphalt and the Bonner Springs Construction Office the project cost $1.3 million to complete. 

 

District 2 in North Central Kansas:

Grading and concrete pavement of bike path and lighting system: Hamm Construction, Kaw Valley and the Junction City Construction Office. The project cost $938,132 to complete. 

District 3 in Northwest Kansas:

Bridge repair work: Bridges, Inc. and the Oakley Construction Office. The project cost $972,718 to complete. 

District 4 in Southeast Kansas:

Intersection improvement on U.S. 75/160: B&B Bridge Company LLC and the Independence Construction Office. The project cost $835,924 to complete. 

Surfacing, side roads and entrances on K-68: Hamm Inc. and the Garnett Construction Office The project cost $2,529,720 to complete. 

District 5 in South Central Kansas:

Bridge repairs: King Construction Company and the El Dorado Construction Office ($2,726,787)

“By working together and not against one another, we were able to solve problems in a timely manner, and the outcome was a great looking project completed before the winter hit.” — Jordan Toogood, King’s Project Manager 

Kansas Turnpike Authority Award Winner:

RCB Construction and Grading: Hamm Construction and the KTA ($3,153,466)

Statewide Project Award Winner:

Grading, bridge and surfacing: Ebert Construction and Lochner with the Marion Construction Office ($7,216,411)

“Due to tremendous cooperation with Ebert, KDOT, Lochner, city and county governments, this project was completed two months ahead of schedule and is an excellent example of partnering in action.” — Scott Swanson of KDOT when announcing the award