#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. 

Cranksgiving collects food for those in need

Earlier this month more than 20 bicyclists gathered to participate in Topeka's Cranksgiving event. 
Courtesy photo: Bike Topeka

The majority of holiday books, songs and movies have one message: It is better to give than to receive. Donating food to those in need is a great way to spread goodwill to others, especially during the holiday season.

That is just what happened recently in Kansas’ capital city. Last week in Topeka, more than 20 bicyclists of all ages took to the streets to spread holiday cheer. The cyclists collected more than 500 pounds of food during the city’s 5th Annual Cranksgiving.

More than 500 pounds of food was gathered during the
Cranksgiving event. Courtesy photo: Bike Topeka
 

Karl Fundenberger, an Cranksgiving event organizer for Topeka, said that the event is designed to be a Thanksgiving food drive powered by bicycles.

“It happens in communities all over the U.S.,” Fundenberger said. “All food was donated to the pantry at the Center for Safety and Empowerment at the YWCA of Northeast Kansas.”

Fundenberger said that the event is a perfect combination of recreation and transportation.

“It requires navigational skills, cargo-carrying skills, and quick thinking – and it shows riders how capable they are on just two wheels,”
Fundenberger said. “It also demonstrates to the community how effective bikes can be for transport of people and cargo and how important it is to provide bicycle facilities as a part of the transportation network.”

Andy Fry, another event organizer, said that Cranksgiving has another reason for existing.

“For participants, Cranksgiving also helps identify challenges in a population’s ability to find food in a human-powered perimeter and food desserts or a lack of food distribution points or resources in a community,” Fry said.

Fundenberger said that riders had 90 minutes to collect food items from eight different categories. To visit more stores, participants were only allowed to pick up two items per location. If they hoped to complete the list and win, they would need to visit four different stores.

A group ride and shopping trip, dubbed, “The Haul” took place simultaneously to the Cranksgiving event. The group rode together to local grocery stores and to some nearby donors’ homes to pick up more items.

“Some of the riders and teams in the competition were sponsored by friends and family, and The Haul ride was totally sponsored by donors,” Fundenberger said.  “Beyond cash sponsorship for groceries, prize sponsorships came from PT’s Coffee, Jerry’s Bike Shop, Capp’s Bike Shop, Kaw Valley Bicycle Club, Hazel Hill Chocolate, and others.”

Want to get involved next year? Contact any of the host organizations or send an inquiry to info@biketopeka.com or like the Bike Topeka page on Facebook.

For more information on how you can participate in Cranksgiving in your community, check out www.cranksgiving.com  

#KDOTTUESDAYS: Ulysses seniors adopt a highway

Students from Ulysses High School partner with KDOT staff from southwest Kansas to keep their community and highways clean for their senior service learning project. 

While many high school seniors are focused on senior pictures, graduation announcements and deciding what their next steps will be after high school graduation, three Ulysses High School seniors are partnering with KDOT District Six staff to keep their community and highways clean as part of their senior service learning project.  When Connor Beims, Austen Everett, and David Vasquez had an interest in a project geared towards the outdoors, Senior English teacher, Jodi Pfingsten visited with them about the highways and KDOT’s Adopt a Highway program.  As part of the project, Connor, Austen, and David will be working with local organizations in Ulysses and Grant County to revive the Adopt a Highway Program by making organizations aware of the program and coordinating sign-ups and clean-ups in the Ulysses/Grant County area.  They will be contacting all organizations that have signed up for a route in District Six to update contact information, to determine when the last clean-up was, and to confirm the organization’s interest in participating in KDOTs Adopt a Highway program.  According to Pfingsten, all students at Ulysses High School are required to complete five hours of community service each year.  During the students’ junior year Pfingsten likes to have the students perform their five hours of community service in one area in the community so the students begin to build relationships.  As seniors, the service project must incorporate an outside agency and contain a project management variable which teaches students to take a big project and break it down into smaller short-term goals with varying responsibilities.  This helps students develop communication skills and learn how relationships work. 

According to Joe Finley, KDOTs District Six Maintenance Engineer, many of the Adopt A Highway organizations signed up a number of years ago and haven’t reported any clean-ups or been contacted in the last several years.  “We are excited to have help with this program in Southwest Kansas and especially interested in having this group of young men show an interest in the program.  We are anxious to get their input on how we can revive the program and make it more appealing to younger generations today”.

For more information on how you can get involved, check out our blog form earlier this year:
http://kansastransportation.blogspot.com/2017/04/adopt-highway-keep-kansas-clean.html

Arrive alive: Make the choice to drive responsibly

The turkey is cooking, the various dishes and desserts are set out on the table and awaiting the feast, which means it is Thanksgiving! Laughter from family and friends can be heard in millions of homes across America on this particular day. 

It’s one of the most anticipated holidays of the year, and for many, Thanksgiving is a time for celebration. But before anyone can gather around the table for food or fun, we all need to do one basic thing: arrive alive.  
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the day before Thanksgiving, or “Thanksgiving Eve,” has statistically become one of the deadliest days of the year on the roads. 
In the past five years, more than 800 people have been killed in drunk driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period. In 2016, one-third of all traffic fatalities during this time involved crashes related to drunk driving.

One crash related to drunk driving is too many. This year, make the choice to find another way to your destination:

• Call a friend or loved one to pick you up.
• Let someone else drive you home, use a rideshare program or call a taxi.
• Take advantage of public transportation.
• Wait until you are completely sober before getting behind the wheel. It is better to be safe than sorry. 

A grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation will pay for the extra overtime for law enforcement across the state of Kansas this week. Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who are operating a vehicle while under the influence. This year, buckle up, obey the speed limit and drive responsibly. You and your family will be thankful you did.

#KDOTTUESDAYS: Section of U.S. 75 dedicated to fallen hero Eldon K. Miller

KHP Master Trooper Ryan Mosher and his brother Sergeant Darren Mosher of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, unveil a sign dedicating a section of U.S. 75 to their great uncle, Eldon K. Miller who also served as a KHP Officer. 

A major manhunt took place in Overland Park the afternoon of January 19, 1968. The search was on for two suspects who had robbed $13,000 from the Metcalf State Bank, shooting and wounding a local motorcycle officer during their getaway.

The abandoned getaway vehicle was located near an apartment complex in the 8400 block of Newton. Officers formed a perimeter and searched each apartment. As officers entered one of the apartments, shots were fired. Stationed outside, Sergeant Eldon Miller of the Kansas Highway Patrol jumped into a nearby Johnson County Sheriff’s car and began driving to the apartment windows to provide cover for officers pinned down by the shooting. As Miller was moving the car, gunfire erupted from the windows. The bullets struck and immediately killed him.

Sgt. Miller was 48 years old. He served in the United State Air Army Corps from 1942-45, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Miller had been with the KHP for over 15 years. He was the first member of the Patrol to be killed by gunfire.

Family, friends and citizens gathered Nov. 1 at Yates Center for a sign unveiling ceremony to designate a section of U.S. 75 as the Eldon K. Miller Memorial Highway.

Family, friends and citizens gathered Nov. 1 at Yates Center for a sign unveiling ceremony to designate a section of U.S. 75 as the Eldon K. Miller Memorial Highway. The words of family members and officials recalling Miller’s commitment, enthusiasm and bravery warmed the chilly setting on the courthouse lawn.

According to Colonel Mark Bruce of the KHP, Miller’s family worked tirelessly with legislators to designate the highway. The Eldon K. Miller Memorial Highway is part of the U.S. 75 corridor. It starts at the north city limits of Yates Center, his hometown, and continues north to the Woodson-Coffey county line.

Turkey Day Travel Tips

Family, friends and food are great reasons for anyone to take to the road during the Thanksgiving holiday. Studies show that this is the busiest travel time of the year. In order to make it to the dinner table on time, make sure you are prepared by following these tips:

If your destination is far away, make sure that your vehicle is safe to drive. Have the vehicle’s fluids, windshield wipers and tires inspected prior to hitting the road.

Watch the skies. Bad weather can hit suddenly in parts of the country. Take caution when traveling in inclement weather.

Know where you are going before you leave.  Don’t rely solely on GPS.   Print out maps and directions, GPS service may become intermittent and having a backup is never a bad idea.

Make sure everyone is buckled in safely.

Keep your cell phone charged at all times in case of emergencies. If it is not being used for directions, make sure it is safely tucked away. Distracted driving can ruin your dinner plans.

Have an emergency kit handy. Make sure the contents include:

• Battery powered radio
• Flashlight
• Blankets for everyone in your car
• Jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Bottled water
• Snacks
• Maps
• Tire repair kit

Don’t drink and drive and know your limits. If you are tired, upset or ill it is not a good idea to drive. Take a break if needed.

Give yourself extra time to make it to your destination. More travelers on the road mean more traffic congestion. Be patient, the winter holidays are right around the corner and no one appreciates a Grinch.

For up-to-date road conditions check out kandrive.org

Traffic Incident Manager saves countless lives through training of first responders

Rusty James, right, received recognition from ITS Heartland earlier this year for his dedicated work training thousands of emergency repsonders with the TIM program in the KC metro area. 

Traffic Incident Response Week, Nov. 13 – 19, was created to raise awareness of the dangers emergency responders are exposed to when they work at a traffic incident.

Rusty James, provides training to law enforcement officials,
emergency responders, and highway workers

Training emergency responders across the nation using the Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Incident Management (TIM) program creates a coordinated response to clear traffic incidents efficiently with less risk to emergency responders, those involved in crashes and drivers that pass through an incident area.

As part of the Kansas City Scout traffic management center, TIM has been used in the KC metro area for many years. The manager of this effort until recently was Rusty James.

In May, Rusty was recognized by ITS Heartland, a five-state intelligent transportation systems organization, with its President’s Award in appreciation for his dedicated work training thousands of emergency responders.

There is no way to count the number of lives Rusty James saved over his many years of training law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, tow operators, DOT maintenance workers and other first responders. But there is no doubt the he is responsible for many people going home after an incident because of the training he provided. Thank you Rusty!