Work Zone Wednesday: Multi-phase bridge project along I-70

Work continues on the multi-phase bridge project along I-70 in Ellis County. The project is expected to be completely finished in December, weather permitting. 

Work is progressing on a multi-phase bridge project along I-70 in eastern Ellis County.

Both the east and westbound bridges carrying I-70 over Old Highway 40 and the Union Pacific railroad near Walker have undergone major renovations. The project started in fall 2016 with the installation of temporary crossovers in preparation for the bridge deck replacements and concrete patching and overlays that have taken place this spring and summer.

The eastbound portion was completed at the end of July and work is currently taking place on the westbound structures. Work is expected to be finished by the end of October. The temporary crossovers will then be removed and the project completely finished in December.

Bridges Inc. of Newton is the primary contractor with a total project cost of approximately $2 million.

Work Zone Wednesday: Modernization project on K-7 in Cherokee County

Work on the final leg of the modernization project in Cherokee County. 

Work is progressing on the final leg of the T-WORKS modernization project on K-7 in Cherokee County. The entire improvement begins at the U.S. 400/K-7 junction at Cherokee and continues south for 11 miles to the U.S. 69/U.S. 160/K-7 junction at Columbus.

The project started in 2016 with the reconstruction of four miles between U.S. 400 and K-102. The southern seven-mile-long section, from K-102 south to Columbus, closed for construction in early June. The highway’s driving surface is being widened to 44 feet, with 12-foot lanes and 10-foot shoulders. Project activity includes major modifications to the existing highway alignment, grouting old mine shafts underneath the roadway, and bridge repairs.

At this point in construction the contractor is grading and building simple span bridges and box culverts on the closed section. The official detour route for K-7 traffic is signed along U.S. 160, U.S. 69/400 and U.S. 400.

Work on the final leg of the modernization project in Cherokee County. 

KDOT awarded the K-7 construction contract of $35.4 million to Koss Construction Company of Topeka. The road work is expected to be finished and K-7 reopened to traffic by mid-August 2018.

Work Zone Wednesday: U.S. 83 in Haskell County

In July 2016, work began on the construction of a new alignment of U.S. 83 and construction of an interchange at the junction of U.S. 83/U.S. 160/K-144 in Haskell County. Passing lanes are also being added to the new alignment of U.S. 83.

As work continues on the project , and traffic shifted to new alignment on Tuesday, July 25.  With the interchange close to completion, dirt work and some paving has also been completed on the approach ramps to the interchange. 

The project is expected to be completed in November.

Venture Corporation of Great Bend is the contractor on this $22.3 million project.

Work Zone Wednesday: Bridge Repairs on K-196 in Butler County

Work is underway on K-196 to upgrade and replace bridges in Butler County. 

On Feb. 27, the Kansas Department of Transportation began to upgrade/replace Dry Creek Bridge, Whitewater River Bridge and Diamond Creek on K-196 in Butler County. The bridges are located between Northwest Diamond Road/K-196 Intersection and Northwest Tawakoni Road/K-196 Intersection between the City of Potwin and the City of Whitewater.

All three original bridges have been torn down and pouring of the bridge deck for the eastern bridge began last week. 

 

Currently, all three original bridges have been torn down and removed. Project grading and seeding has been completed on each of the bridges and crews are focusing construction efforts from the east bridge to the western bridges. Pouring of the bridge deck for the eastern bridge began last week. On the western bridges, the contractor is driving piles and working on pier construction. Despite the early spring rains, the bridge replacement project is still scheduled to be completed and reopen the highway to unrestricted traffic by late November 2017, depending on delays due to adverse weather conditions.

The bridge replacement project is expected to be be completed and reopen to traffic by late November 2017.

 Until the highway is reopened, through traffic will continued to be affected by the bridge replacement project with the closure of K-196 and will be routed on an official state detour which will direct traffic through K-254 to I-135 instead of K-196.

King Construction Company from Hesston is the prime contractor for this $2,726,000 project, which is funded by T-WORKS, the transportation program passed by the Kansas Legislature.

Work Zone Wednesday: Safe Routes to School in Erie

Crews place new sidewalk pavement along Webster Street. The work will continue for several blocks north to Erie Elementary School.

In early May crews from  RFB Construction of Pittsburg began making sidewalk improvements in Erie. The project includes the reconstruction of existing sidewalk sections, the addition of new sidewalks along several streets, ADA ramps, and new curb and gutter. The federal Safe Routes to School program is funding 80 percent of the $207,796 construction cost, with the remaining 20 percent matched by the city.

Crews place new sidewalk pavement along Webster Street. The work will continue for several blocks north to Erie Elementary School.

The Safe Routes to School projects in Erie and other cities throughout Kansas are part of KDOT’s Transportation Alternatives Program.

Work Zone Wednesday: I-435 to Metcalf Avenue in Johnson County

I-435 eastbound at U.S. 69

Improving and maintaining Kansas highways is part of KDOT’s mission for the state. In March, pavement reconstruction began on I-435 from one-half mile west of U.S. 69 to just east of Metcalf Avenue in Johnson County.

The $16.3 million project will replace old, deteriorating concrete pavement with new concrete pavement. This will alleviate the constant maintenance work that has been performed on this stretch of highway. The project work also includes bridge deck patching and resurfacing of approach slabs for the bridges over Indian Creek and Metcalf Avenue. The northbound U.S. 69 to westbound I-435 loop and a portion of the westbound I-435 collector-distributor road will also receive a face lift with a new asphalt overlay.

I-435 eastbound at Antioch in Johnson County. 

The I-435 pavement reconstruction project will take two constructions seasons and is scheduled to be completed by mid-November 2018, weather permitting. 

The 2017 construction season schedule includes work on eastbound I-435 lanes. 

For more information on this project, check out our I-435 Pavement Reconstruction Page here.

Updated daily traffic information for this project and for the entire Kansas City Metro Area can be viewed at: www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp. 

Motorists are asked to use extra caution in the work zone area.

Work Zone Wednesday: U.S. 54 Expansion in Seward County

Work on the U.S. 54 expansion east of Liberal in Seward County has begun to wrap up. The project, which was started last April, will expand the 3 1/2 mile highway to four lanes and add a bridge over the Cimarron River.  

Work has begun to wrap up on the U.S. 54 expansion east of Liberal in Seward county. The project broke ground in April 2016, with Michel Corporation of Brownsville, Wis. as the primary contractor on this $14.6 million project that addresses the needs for a four-lane expressway on U.S. 54 and improves access to the Arkalon Energy Plant on this route. 

Crews remove old highway material from U.S. 54. Work is now in its
final phases.

This 3 ½ mile project includes building a four-lane expressway and a second bridge over the Cimarron river.  Most of the work has been completed off the original roadway limiting detours and delays for motorists and allowing for enhanced safety.  Greg Adams, KDOT Area Construction Engineer, attributes the enhanced safety and lack of accidents on this project to Michels Paving Project Manager, Charlie James, who has played a crucial role in keeping the project and site accident free.  “Consistent, active and visible safety leadership, positive recognition for safe work behaviors, and holding our people accountable is an important part of Michels' culture.  It has earned Michels Paving the reputation of being one of the safest contractors in the industry,” according to James.

The project is in its final phases, with crews working on signing, striping and completing tie-ins during the next several weeks.

Work Zone Wednesday: K- 51, near Hugoton

Looking west, the pavement reconstruction project located on K-51 in Hugoton will address long term drainage issues in the area and extend the pavement life of the roadway.

Today's Work Zone Wednesday features a pavement reconstruction project on K-51 in Hugoton, which is located in Southwest Kansas. In April, KDOT began this project designed to address a long term drainage issue in the area and improve and extend the pavement life of the roadway, the project includes replacing or upgrading 17 storm sewer inlets with drop inlets to improve drainage in the area, installation of a new box, seven new pipes and a new submersible pump that will improve drainage and correct an existing long term issue with standing water in the area.

The pavement reconstruction project along K-51 includes upgrading 17 storm sewer inlets to improve drainage in the area.

Asphalt pavement is being removed and replaced with 8-inch concrete pavement that will improve road conditions and extend pavement life.  Curbing will be replaced as needed and ADA ramps will be installed to meet current standards.  The project will also increase the turning radius at the intersection of U.S. 56 and K-51 to better accommodate truck traffic. Work will be completed in four phases and is expected to be completed by October 31, 2017. 

The pavement reconstruction project along K-51 includes upgrading 17 storm sewer inlets to improve drainage in the area.

Smoky Hill, LLC. of Salina is the primary contractor on the project with a construction cost of approximately $3.9 million.

#IAMKDOT Tom McCartney

When people first think of work zones, most think of summer construction taking place on the highways. But motorists need to use extra caution all year long, including the winter, when workers are clearing the roadways of snow and ice.

This month’s #IAMKDOT feature is Tom McCartney, Area Superintendent in El Dorado, and he knows this all too well. His truck has been hit twice - once when a vehicle slid into the side of his truck and once when he got rear-ended during white out conditions on the Interstate.

“Snow and ice is a whole different experience. Working north of Wichita – people passing on both sides in blinding snow,” he said. “Then a half mile down the road, there they are in the ditch.”

McCartney has spent his 23-year career working along the highways. He has worked in Marion and Newton, then was promoted to Supervisor at the Hutchinson Subarea Office. He’s been in his current position for the past two years.

He said it’s also very different working along a two-lane highway with lower traffic volumes versus a multi-lane divided Interstate.

“Coming from Marion, that was an eye opening experience. There were times I had to wait 10 minutes to safely cross the road to get in the median,” he said. “If it was rush hour, it could take longer.

“I don’t think drivers understand what it’s like to have traffic come by at a high rate of speed and how quickly something tragic can happen,” McCartney said. “It can get bad in a hurry.”

When not working, he likes to spend his time with his wife and four grown children. He also is an avid sports fans and a horse trader. McCartney grew up training horses and sustained numerous injuries in the process – he broke his neck when he was 14, has had multiple concussions, has broken all his ribs and separated a shoulder. Now he lets his oldest son train the horses most of the time.

#IAMKDOT is an illustration project that recognizes KDOT employees who work hard to keep Kansans moving. This series also serves as a reminder for travelers to slow down and remember that underneath those neon vests are individuals with families, friends and hobbies waiting for them at home.

Do you know a KDOT worker that deserves recognition? Nominations are open! Email Mallory.Goeke@KS.gov today to get started!