Traffic sign replacement among approved projects in December letting.

A project to replace traffic signs on all major collector routes in Marshall County (with the exception of RS-436 and RS-1222 in the City of Blue Rapids) was one of six projects approved in the December KDOT letting. The new signs will enhance the safety of the travelling public. Signs Up LTD DBA Haren's Trees and Critters of Webster City, Iowa, is the contractor on the $319,000 project.

A total of 1,032 flat signs and 871 object markers are part of the sign improvement project.

To see all of the projects approved in the December letting, click here.

Winter Ready Wednesdays: Should you warm up your vehicle?

We all have heard this advice from time to time: "You need to let your car warm up before you drive it."

But if you a driving a car that uses fuel injection, allowing your car to sit idle in your driveway on a cold day is not only unnecessary, it may actually do more harm than good to your car.

The following video explains why idling your car can lead to a damaged engine:

As the video explains, the misconception is based on fact. Prior to the late 1980s, vehicles used carburetors which really did need more time to warm up for the engine to work efficiently and safely.

Today, most mechanics suggest allowing modern engines to warm for about 30 seconds prior to driving. They also suggest that driving your car gently at first helps to avoid unnecessary wear and tear on the engine.

On cold, dry days it may be a good idea to enjoy that last sip of coffee a little longer before you head out into the chilly weather.

If you are unsure about what your car needs to make it through the winter, check with your mechanic. 

KDOT District Two wins award for two projects

The Belleview Subarea office in District Two has something to celebrate as the new year approaches.

The American Concrete Pavement Association honored two KDOT road projects in northeast Kansas with Silver Place in the Excellence in Concrete Pavement Award. The two projects were tied and share this national award. 

According to District Two, Area Two Construction Engineer, Jean Istas, The primary project was pavement . reconstruction on U.S. 36 beginning 0.2 mile east of U.S. 81 junction, then east 1.1 miles through Belleville. The next project was a reconstruction of the bridge of Riley Creek between U.S. 81 junction and U.S. 36.

The major work on these projects began in March 2015 and ended in November 2015. The project was officially completed in the spring of this year after striping and seeding. 

Happy Holidays from KDOT

KDOT wants to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season!

If any "elves" need something to do during the festivities. We have created a coloring activity page for them to decorate.  Click on the image to download the full-sized sheet. 

Winter Ready Wednesdays: Q&A with District 1 Maintenance Superintendent Drake Jennings

According to a popular song, many of us are probably dreaming of a White Christmas this year. While snow can be beautiful and fascinating, not everyone gets to experience it from the comforts of home. KDOT maintenance crews work tirelessly to ensure that Kansas keeps moving during inclement weather.

We interviewed District 1 Maintenance Superintendent out of Olathe, Drake Jennings, about his experiences during inclement weather and what his crew goes through as they plow the roads and clear the way.

Q. Not every snow storm is the same. What it is like to go out and face extreme weather to keep the roadways clear?

 A. It’s extremely hard work; most people think it’s just driving a truck. But not only are you driving that truck, you are operating the plow, the wing plow, and the hopper applying salt to the roadways. On top of that, you have to watch the road to keep your truck in the lane you’re plowing, and of course watch all the other traffic at the same time.

Q. How long can it take to clear the roads in your area?

 A. The time to remove the snow depends on the amount. A three-inch snow will usually take us about three days to clean it up. If we get a big snow storm it can take us up to two weeks to clean it up.

Q. Can you name a particular time when inclement weather required a lot of manpower to fight the storm?

 A. I think it was in 2003 or 2004, we got a big storm. It was a mixture of ice and snow, it was extremely hard for us to keep our trucks on the road because of all the ice. I was in a truck treating on the ramp from eastbound 435 to State Line Road. I was treating the high side of the ramp, when my truck slid from one side of the ramp to the other. It was like that all over Johnson County. I remember that storm because my kids were very young. I got called out in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. My kids woke up Christmas morning to see what Santa brought them without me, they were extremely upset and couldn’t understand why their dad had to go to work and miss Christmas morning with them. I tried to explain to them that sometimes dad has to go to work to make the roads safe, so all of the other dads could get home to spend time with their kids. They said it just wasn’t fair. They never did think it was ever fair, but they did realize that what I did on that Christmas Day was so others could get home safe to celebrate with their families. 

Q. What is it like for KDOT crews to go out into a snow storm, clear the roads during treacherous weather and then try to return to some normalcy when the work is finished?  

 A. It’s extremely hard, adrenaline is running very high, it’s what helps the guys get through the long hours and hard work. During a storm we split into two shifts, my day crews work from 8 a.m to 8 p.m., then my night crews work from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Those are long 12-hour shifts and it takes a special kind of person to do what my employees do. Depending on how many days we work those hours, it sometimes takes three to four days for the operators to get back to their normal routine, it messes with their diet and their sleeping.

Q. Is there anything you want our readers to understand when KDOT crews are out on the roads?

 A. Just give us room to work. It takes us a while to get the roads back to normal, especially if we get ice then snow, and the temperatures are really cold. Please be patience and give us time to do our jobs.

KDOT explores use of Kansas volcanic ash in concrete

Pop Quiz: When you are walking on a sidewalk are you walking on cement or concrete?

If you answered concrete, you are correct.

Concrete is the result of cement mixed with aggregate, sand and water.  Cement is the binder that hold everything together.

In an effort to explore using alternative materials in concrete, KDOT’s Bureau of Research explored the possibility of using Kansas volcanic ash as a supplementary cementitious material, or SCMs. SCMs are materials other than cement that are used to bind the mixture to create concrete.  A popular SCM is fly ash which is a waste product of coal. Because industries are switching to natural gas, coal isn’t being used as often and subsequently, a reduction in fly ash is the result.

KDOT primarily uses fly ash in KDOT concrete projects and bridge decks to improve strength and permeability characteristics.

At one time, the Rocky Mountains were volcanic and erupted sending ash into parts of Kansas. Because the ash is still present, KDOT decided to test the ash to see if this was a local resource that could be used.

Unfortunately, the report found that Kansas volcanic ash is not a viable substitute,

“Testing indicated that Kansas volcanic ash has few cementitious properties and as a result, when added to concrete, it has several possible negative effects, including increased bleed, increased set time, negative effect on strength, permeability, and finishing,” the report said.

Rick Kreider, Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Research, said that although Kansas volcanic ash is not an option for a SCM, the in-house research project was still a success because KDOT found that using this substance would not be a suitable solution. 

Image source: http://cornerstonemag.net/

#IAMKDOT: Nathan Blankinship

This month's #IAMKDOT is Nathan Blankinship who has worked at KDOT for about three years and he is an Equipment Operator at the KDOT Sedan Subarea in southeast Kansas.

In this illustration, Nathan is shown leveling a sign post along K-99 in Chautauqua County. 

When he is not working for KDOT, Nathan farms east of Sedan, raising cattle and pigs, and is a custom hay baler. In addition to farming and custom baling, in his off-duty hours he volunteers with the Sedan Rural Fire Department. Nathan’s dog, a red heeler named Abby, even has her own Facebook page, ‘Abby the Chautauqua County Fire Dog.’

#IAMKDOT is an illustration project that recognizes KDOT employees who work hard to ensure Kansans enjoy safe roads, rails and skies. Safe and successful transportation also helps Kansans financially. Some employees of KDOT fill dangerous but necessary positions and this project also serves as a reminder for travelers to slow down and remember that underneath those neon vests, are individuals with families 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!