I-70 reconstruction project continuing in Gove County

By Lisa Mussman, 

Northwest Kansas Public Affairs Manager  

A multi-year reconstruction project on a portion of I-70 in Gove County in northwest Kansas has kicked into high gear for the summer.

The eastbound lanes have been milled down in preparation for the new pavement this will be installed this summer and fall.

 Project work includes pavement replacement on both the eastbound and westbound lanes on a nine-mile stretch starting one mile west of the K-23 spur near Grainfield and ending four miles east of K-211. Work began last fall with the installation of temporary crossovers in preparation for the new pavement, with the eastbound lanes scheduled to be completed in 2019 and westbound lanes in 2020.

Construction crews work on the new span bridge that will carry eastbound I-70 over Gove County Road 62. 

Additional project work also includes pavement replacement at the eastbound and westbound rest areas near Grainfield, construction of new right of way fencing, lighting installation at exits 95 and 99, and reconstruction of the box structure carrying Gove County Road 62 under I-70 into two new span bridges.

Part of the project includes polymer overlays on the bridges at exits 95 and 99. Crews first prepare the surface for treatment by shotblasting, followed by an application of epoxy and covered by chat. The surface is then cleaned and a second layer of epoxy and chat are applied. The overlay will help seal any cracks and not allow water and salt to penetrate into the surface, helping to extend the life of the bridge.

 

Traffic through the construction area has been to one lane in each direction in the westbound lanes. Drivers are urged to slow down and use caution when traveling through work zones!

Updates on the project and current travel impacts can be found at www.I70Gove.com. For information on additional construction projects around the state, visit www.kandrive.org.

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.

#ThrowbackThursday: How roads were built in 1953

Crews work on U.S. 50 outside of Strong City in 1953. 

It’s #ThrowbackThursday and in today’s blog we are going back 64 years ago to 1953.

Larry Thompson, KDOT’s Director of Operations said in this picture crews are constructing concrete pavement by placing the concrete in steel forms and using a site mixer at the paver to deliver the batches of concrete.

“This method would have required a lot of hand labor to prepare the subgrade, set forms before paving and then remove the forms and reset the forms for the next placement,” Thompson said.

We’ve come a long way since 1953, and thanks to the development of automatic machinery, crews can now “auto” trim the subgrade material and place the concrete with a slip form paver. Concrete is now delivered to the pavers by dump truck as well.

“This paver eliminated the need to set and remove forms, thus reducing the labor and increasing the speed of the operation,” Thompson said. “Grade control is now off a string line that guides the automatic equipment through each phase and helps to create a smooth driving surface and uniform thickness for strength.”

The development of larger machines has also aided in the way roads are built. Many of the machines are now controlled by electronic sensors that speed the process along, while at the same time providing uniformity and increased production. This allows the contractor to provide a quality project in less time and at a cheaper cost.

Remember when you are driving in work zones to slow down and stay alert. 

U.S. 69 expansion project begins with groundbreaking celebration

Construction of the U.S. 69 expansion project was celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony. 

U.S. 69 expansion project begins with groundbreaking celebration          

KDOT celebrated the start of the U.S. 69 expansion project with a groundbreaking ceremony earlier today in Bourbon County.

"We at KDOT are proud to be part of this important project and look forward to its successful completion." Transportation Secretary Richard Carlson said.

The $20.4 million T-WORKS construction project will expand a six-mile section of U.S. 69 to a four-lane upgradable expressway.  The project, which begins at the Crawford-Bourbon County line, extends north and ends at the divided four-lane pavement south of the city of Fort Scott.

Two lanes will be added to the existing highway, and at-grade intersections will be constructed at Arrowhead, Birch, Calvary, Deer and Fern roads.

The project is expected to reach completion by November 2018.