Did you ever wonder? How do KDOT crews stay cool?

On June 15, workers from Wellington and Hutchinson crews repaired a spot on U.S. 81 between South Haven and Caldwell. The job included a milling and overlay

For days in advance, the National Weather Service sent alerts warning people to prepare for a dangerous combination of heat and humidity on Thursday, June 10. And, of course, there have been and will be other days like that during the rest of the summer.So on a dangerously hot day, how do KDOT employees who have to work in the elements deal with the heat hazards? A common theme was - prevention is crucial. Here is what they shared about coping with the heat and humidity on June 10: 

Dennis Senters, Beloit Subarea Supervisor, District Two: “I made sure they (his crew) had their water with them” – meaning extra water. “You could tell it was the first big heat of the year,” Senters said. “And it was hard on ‘em. When they came in, their tongues were hanging out. I tell them: When you need a break, you take a break.” He also reminds his crew that some people can endure heat better than others, and not to assume that because you feel OK, your co-worker does as well. “We got a great crew in Beloit. We keep a close eye on each other.” 

Daryl Dougherty, Engineering Technician, Phillipsburg Construction Office, District Three: His June 10 work schedule centered around inspecting a grading project north of Osborne on U.S. 24/281. Even with a breeze, at 2:24 p.m. the temperature where he was working was 94 degrees. But the “real feel,” factoring in the humidity, was 103 degrees, Dougherty noted. He had been in the heat for about six hours at that point, but he was making sure he stayed hydrated. “Every time I go back to the pickup, I make sure I drink a glass of water.”

Burke Koehn, Scott City Subarea Supervisor, District Six: Koehn tried to steer his crew to jobs where they could avoid the heat and sun that day. He noted that his area of southwestern Kansas had been unusually humid after weeks of regular rainfall. “The humidity is definitely something that makes it harder to cope with,” Koehn said.

Mike Lorett, Facilities Specialist, part of the District Five HVAC crew: “My biggest trick is a spray bottle of water.” He works outside in sweltering conditions so others can stay cool inside. So he sprays his face, head and neck -- sometimes every five minutes. “I spray my beard, and I call that my portable air-conditioning,” he said, laughing. “I’ve got a big ol’ hat, big ol’ brim on it. I don’t care what I look like -- I keep cool. You got to keep cool, and you got to keep hydrated.”

Dan Acridge, Wichita Area Crew Supervisor: Because of the extreme heat on June 10, Acridge had his crew finish painting stop bars by 2 p.m. “That’s enough -- they’ve been out in the heat all day,” he said. While they worked, he had them take breaks in an air-conditioned truck. “It was really humid this morning, and the humidity burned off a little.” Working directly over pavement intensifies the heat, Acridge noted. “Then, of course, we’re always working in teams so we can keep an eye on each other.”

Remember to slow down and pay attention in work zones and help our crews get their work done so they can make it home to their families. 

A slice of KDOT life: fighting frozen fog

This time of year, KDOT crews are busy trying to stay ahead of the weather.

Here’s a snapshot of a recent battle against frozen fog.

Christy DeSantis, Equipment Operator, back in the Hutchinson shop after spraying brine in advance of frozen fog.

It’s Friday morning, Jan. 24, at the District Five offices in Hutchinson, and supervisors see that the forecast calls for frozen fog that night and into the next morning. Extreme humidity, left by a barrage of rain and snow, is about to meet freezing temperatures.

So across much of south central Kansas, District Five crews set out to lay down a layer of brine – saltwater – a melting agent to help keep an icy glaze from forming.

They focus on what KDOT crews call “the criticals” -- the bridge decks that tend to freeze faster because they are not insulated by the ground. And the curves, crossovers and 

turnarounds -- where angling tires are more apt to lose traction on slick spots.

Dave Alexander, Equipment Operator Senior, on a brine run on K-96 between Hutchinson and Wichita.

So that morning, in just one part of the multi-county effort, two KDOT trucks and their drivers work in tandem to spray brine in both directions on K-96 between Hutchinson and Wichita.

The frozen-fog fighters: Dave Alexander, Equipment Operator Senior, with about 20 years of service to KDOT, and Christy DeSantis, Equipment Operator, with about two years of experience.

They each drive a big orange truck with flashing lights, one with a 2,000-gallon brine tank, the other with 1,600 gallons. She takes the inside lane. He, the outside. She goes ahead. He stays behind. Traffic passes in between.

Here and there, they stop and turn to catch the crossover and turnaround lanes.

Using controls in their toasty cabs, they spray brine intermittently as they roll along.

In Alexander’s truck, a monitor shows the air temperature, 33 degrees, and road temperature, 39. It’s around 11 a.m. All is calm. They keep working methodically.

You can see dull-white parallel lines, long ribbons down the highway, where the brine nozzles have sprayed directly down.

It’s all part of an effort to keep motorists from spinning out.

The crews do what they can.

The rest is up to Mother Nature – and the motorists.

Flood patrol: How KDOT crews assist with roads affected by high waters

During heavy rainfall events, with even the slightest chance of flooding, KDOT crews are on the lookout to help keep everyone safe by monitoring the roads in Kansas.

Crews keep a close eye on flood-prone roads and areas of concern and they watch for high water that may come onto the roadway.

“Due to the wet winter and wet spring, this year we put many workers on standby during several storms to monitor the flooding situation at numerous locations,” said James Roudybush, Maintenance Engineer in north central Kansas.

When water is only partially over the roadway and it is safe to drive on another part of the road, KDOT crews flag vehicles around the high water so traffic can continue to flow.  If the water becomes too high for traffic to safely go around or the high water around the road has caused unsafe conditions, the roadway will be closed until it is safe to reopen.

“We set up traffic control and try to ensure traffic doesn’t go past the barricades to keep everyone safe,” said Billy Wilson, Highway Maintenance Supervisor in Strong City.

If you come across an area with water over the roadway that is not being controlled, you should call 9-1-1.  Crews will then determine if the road should be closed until water goes down or if part of the road is safe to drive on.

In order to safely reopen the highway, all debris must be removed that may have floated onto it and the roadway surface and any bridges must be inspected for damage.

“After recent flooding we have had to cut up trees with a chainsaw and remove them from bridges or roadways to prevent damage,” Wilson said.

If there is damage to the roadway or bridge, it may have to be repaired before it can be reopened.

Crews work hard to reopen roads after flooding has occurred. Please remember to give the crews room to work and never drive around a barricade.  Remember: if you come across high water, turn around, don’t drown! More rain is in the forecast this weekend. 

Heavy rains, flooding impacts KDOT construction

May was one of the wettest months Kansas has seen in recent years. Some parts of the state saw more than 20 inches of rain — more than four times the average amount for some areas. 

Greg Schieber, KDOT Bureau Chief of Construction and Materials said that KDOT is currently working through the impact of severe weather on the 2019 construction season.

"Not only has the severe weather impacted the physical work that can be completed on a project, it is also impacting materials supply for projects including aggregate supply and binder supply," Shieber said.   "We are working with contractors now on prioritizing the projects that can be completed this construction season. KDOT also has initiated discussions on the potential of changing late start dates and delaying some projects until the 2020 construction season."

Estimated rainfall for the month of May. Source: NOAA 

Shieber said in some situations, the floodwaters are still too high to assess damages, putting construction projects farther behind. As reported last week, the Lewis and Clark Viaduct is one of those projects. 

Location at Kaw Point, where the Kansas River meets the Missouri River near the Lewis and Clark Viaduct. The Kansas river has pushed the flow of the Missouri river to the north.  

All this additional rainfall only exasperated several rivers that were already full because of heavy snow melt from states farther north. Highways in parts of the state have closed at times due to water covering the surface and that’s not the only problem. This much water has led to delays in maintenance repairs and construction projects across the state.
Joe Palic, KDOT Area Engineer in Marion, is dealing with delays on some construction projects. 

High waters caused K-177 to close between Strong City and Cottonwood Falls last month. 

“The flooding hasn’t been the issue, it’s been the heavy rains that have saturated the job sites and made it tough to work,” Palic said. 

Ashley Tammen, Public Affairs Manager for north central Kansas, also said that for each day of heavy rain means another day lost in highway work as crews work to clean up debris from flooding.

KDOT crews help clear water on K-140 in Saline County last month.

Ron Hall, District Engineer for southwest Kansas, said that weather can have an impact on construction season. “Some projects may take longer to complete, the planned start date for some projects may be delayed,” Hall said. “Schedules and tasks change due the impact of weather events.” 

Delays can also happen because KDOT crews and contractors must spend more time and resources cleaning up debris and tacked on mud on the roadways. 

After the flood waters recede debris can be left behind and KDOT crews work to clear the roads. 

“Pavement can sustain damage from floodwater,” Tom Hein, Public Affairs Manager for south central Kansas said. “Before a highway is reopened, it is checked for damage.” 
Hein also said that while there have been delays on smaller projects, for larger projects it is less of a problem. “It slows down work, but they’ll eventually catch up.”

Damage to K-7 in northeast Kansas from flooding earlier this spring. 

The heavy rains and flooding have also had an impact on normal maintenance activities across the state, like mowing the right of ways. 

Jeff Romine, Area Superintendent for Wamego, said that there are a couple of reasons why crews can’t mow when the ground is saturated.

Heavy rains help grass grow quickly, unfortunately, all the water received has caused the ground to become saturated, which can make mowing efforts difficult. 

“It is harder on the equipment when it is wet due to the equipment falling through muddy area,” Romine said.  “It also causes the mower to pull harder with the mower getting mud stuck between tires and frame of the machine. Mowing when wet leaves large ruts in the ground and then the grass dies, creating more work because we need to haul dirt in and do some landscaping.” 

Romine also added that if KDOT mowing equipment is damaged, it puts crews even farther behind.

Kansas is expected to receive even more rain this week. Please be patient as KDOT crews work when it is safe to do so. Please be aware of flooding risks and check Kandrive.org regularly for road conditions. Remember if you come across a flooded roadway — turn around, don’t drown. 

On the lookout: KDOT workers have each other’s back

Equipment Operator Senior Rocky Lindgren from Salina, flags traffic in an active work zone. 

Whether a KDOT employee has worked on the highway for one day or 40 years, work zone safety is a top priority and a team effort. 

Equipment Operators at KDOT say they are constantly looking over their shoulders watching for traffic and guarding their safety while working on the roads. Terry Shank, Equipment Operator Senior in Salina, explained how crucial it is that they pay attention to traffic and don’t lose focus, or they could get hurt. 

“When you flag, you take turns with other workers to prevent fatigue,” said Rocky Lindgren, Equipment Operator Senior in Salina. “This prevents mental fatigue and loss of focus while on the job.”

Do you ever approach a work zone and wonder why so many trucks are needed? 

The trucks following a spray patch operation drive over the patches to pack in the loose gravel but that’s only one of the reasons they are there — they also help keep workers safe.

“Trucks are there to alert traffic of a work zone and to make sure traffic gets over in time, so workers can remain safe,” said Kort St. Clair, Highway Maintenance Supervisor in McPherson. “If the operators in the trucks notice something of concern they can warn their coworkers ahead of time.”

Crews in north central Kansas fill potholes using the spray patching technique.

“We look out for one another,” said Tim Frederiksen, Equipment Operator in Salina. “We watch to make sure someone doesn’t step too far over into the traffic while working and they do the same for us."

It is imperative that traffic move over to allow workers the room they need while working.  KDOT workers want to go home safe and they want the same for their coworkers.

KDOT employees ask that all drivers put away distractions, slow down and pay attention while driving through work zones. One mistake could cost them their life. That phone call or text can wait. 

Concrete stitching helps preserve the driving surface

By Priscilla Peterson,
Public Affairs Manager, Southeast Kansas 

KDOT maintenance crews from Independence and Altoona recently took advantage of some mild winter days to perform a preservation activity called concrete stitching on sections of U.S. 400 in Montgomery County. 

The process is used to pin cracks in the driving pavement back together, preventing elevation and separation issues in concrete slabs.

To stitch the pavement, first a crew member measures the crack and paints locations that will be drilled at an angle to the crack. The painted spots are then drilled and cleaned.

Steel pins are placed alongside each drilled location, and epoxy is applied to each hole before the rebar pin is inserted.

Each pin is placed at a 35-degree angle to the crack and hammered into the hole.

Pin securely placed, more epoxy is applied and the hole is smoothed over.

The stitched section is now ready for crack sealing, as shown in a previously stitched and sealed location next to the work zone. And now, on to the next section! 

After the storm: Crews repair damage to signs

It’s no surprise that when snow moves in, KDOT crews get to work.  But have you ever wondered what happens after the storm hits?  Believe it or not, it can be busier after the roads are clear, especially following blizzard conditions or ice.

Following a snow event, subarea crews must get equipment to the shop for maintenance and repairs as all that ice, snow, sand and salt are hard on the trucks and spreaders.  In addition, the same crews are tasked with inventorying sand, salt and brine and restocking depleted inventories.  They are also the same crews that are out after the storm repairing signs, filling potholes and repairing guardrails that are damaged during the event. 

KDOT Garden City Subarea crew members repair a sign after the Dec. 27 blizzard. 

For example, following the Dec. 27 blizzard, which blew in with 50 mph winds and dumped up to 8-12 inches of snow across western Kansas, crews were back out in the cold and snow repairing a sign on U.S. 50 west of Garden City. A casualty of the storm, this sign had already been repaired two weeks earlier, but was damaged when a motorist slid across the ramp hitting the sign according to Hector Terrones, the Highway Maintenance Supervisor for the Garden City Subarea.

“Digging post holes in frozen ground isn't easy.  But we needed to get the sign back up, so we made it work by using a blowtorch to thaw the ground,” said Terrones.

Terrones and Equipment Operator Jesse Casanova, raised the post and positioned it. Finally, Equipment Operator Ciro Chavez, attached the sign to the post while Hector and Jesse adjusted the post to straighten the sign.

It is thanks to KDOT crews, who brave the snow and the cold, that Kansans can continue to travel our state’s highways.

KDOT crews assisted with Eureka tornado clean up

KDOT crews assist with picking up debris left behind from a tornado that moved through Eureka. 

An EF-3 tornado hit the town of Eureka on June 26 causing damage to the high school, houses, trees, power lines and the Kansas Department of Transportation Eureka Subarea office.

KDOT Area offices in El Dorado, Iola and Independence sent numerous employees, several dump trucks, message boards, loaders, barricades, a track hoe and a skid steer to assist in the clean-up efforts.

KDOT storage buildings sustained heavy damage from the tornado. A complete renovation to these buildings is scheduled for later this year. 

After helping the citizens of Eureka with clean-up efforts KDOT employees began cleaning and clearing their subarea maintenance office at Eureka. On a hot and muggy day in early July, several crew members could be seen sweeping away debris and relocating various objects that the twister’s high winds had flung far and wide on the grounds.

Equipment Operator Senior Roy Junkersfeld (right) and Equipment Operator Billy Jones (left) pick up debris left behind at the Eureka Subarea.

This year’s tornado was the second to strike Eureka in a two-year period. Eight people were injured. Seventy-eight residences either sustained significant damage or were completely destroyed. The tornado inflicted considerable damage on the subarea’s chemical storage and equipment storage buildings, wash bay, salt dome and office. Sultry daytime temperatures in the aftermath of the tornado, combined with long hours of community clean-up and little sleep, left the crew members “just exhausted,” said Subarea Supervisor Jeff Marks. Adding more hardship to conditions was a two-day power outage in the city.

State Transportation Engineer Catherine Patrick and Operations Director Larry Thompson visit Eureka to survey the tornado damage of the cold storage building. 

Yet thanks to dedicated KDOT staff, the bruised and battered subarea continues to carry out its work. On a brighter note, a complete renovation of the subarea is scheduled for later this year. Director of Operations Larry Thompson said that he was impressed with the clean up efforts.  

"Immediately after the tornado passed, the Eureka Subarea Supervisor Jeff Marks, walked into the shop area – because he could not drive due to downed power lines and trees – and started securing the site," Thompson said.  "This included shutting off the gas supply which was leaking due to a broken pipe and dealing with an oil spill to keep it out of the local waterway. Then as the crew trickled in, the Citywide clean up efforts began. When we were there on Friday, the Eureka crew and equipment from District 4 shops and District 5 were actively clearing the streets and hauling debris. Just like that was normal business and it certainly was not normal."

KDOT crew members clean up after a tornado damaged the Eureka Subarea. 

After the tornado struck, KDOT closed a 21-mile section of U.S. 54 for several hours. With power lines down, KDOT employees couldn’t access the Eureka shop until June 28, Iola Superintendent Derrick Shannon said. 

Building the future: KDOT attends iBuild, inspires future construction professionals

High school and middle school students had the opportunity to climb inside 

KDOT vehicles and see how they operate from the inside.

More than 1,000 middle school and high school students in the Kansas City Metropolitan area had the opportunity to meet with transportation industry professionals and learn about various construction industry careers at the iBuild Showcase that took place at Bartle Hall in Kansas City on Thursday, May 5. 

KDOT crew members shared what it is like to work for the agency, what they see on a daily basis in work zones, and how to operate the various equipment and vehicles. They encouraged them to pursue careers that will help keep Kansas infrastructure strong and the economy growing.

Students asked the crews how KDOT uses advanced technology to perform their jobs every day. KDOT employees were able to explain how sensors and computer programs help determine the right mixture of road treatments during winter weather.

KDOT is committed to strengthening and encouraging construction professionals well into the future. Many of our jobs offer training and can be filled by high school graduates. For more information on job opportunities check out our website: 

Winter weather recap: Mid-week snow storm photos

Parts of the state saw snow on Tuesday, while some waited for snow that never came. According to the Topeka National Weather Service in twitter page, there was limited moisture in the upper levels of the atmosphere. The snow was “eaten,” when the snow sublimated, or dried up from the dry air between the surface and 5,000 feet. 

The National Weather Service in Topeka shared this post about what happened
to the snow that was expected for parts of the state. 

In the counties that did receive snow fall totals, KDOT crews were hard at work, treating the roads. Here are some photos from the field.

Crews from southwest Kansas treat roads along K-96 from Dighton to Ness City earlier this week. 

Crews from northwest Kansas treat roads along U.S. 36 in Phillips County during the winter storm. 

Crews from north central Kansas work to clear the roads around Concordia during Tuesday's storm.

One of our Public Affairs Managers from north central Kansas had the opportunity to ride along with a KDOT crew from Concordia as they worked to clear the roads. In each of the newer trucks, monitors are mounted to provide real-time information that crews can use to monitor how much brine remains in the tanks, and the air and road temperatures.  

Monitors like this one are mounted inside newer KDOT trucks to allow crews to see how effective the equipment is working. 

According to Jim Frye, KDOT’s Field Maintenance Manager, KDOT crews rely on this information to understand how to treat the roads. Surface temperature is an important factor. If a road is less than 32 degrees and moisture is in the area, the roads can be treated. Bridges freeze faster than other road surfaces because the air flow beneath can cause any moisture to freeze a lot faster. For example, if the regular road surface is 34 degrees, the surface of a bridge could actually be somewhere around 29 degrees and the bridge could be treated.

A second monitor is used by KDOT crews to show what the road and air temperature is. In this photo, the air temperature was 12 degrees, while the road temperature was warmer, at 17 degrees. This monitor also shows how much brine solution is left in the tank. 

The air temperature is also important, especially if its bitterly cold, or the wind is blowing.

KDOT recently acquired new trucks for crews to use throughout the year. We got a chance to ride along on a test drive, so check back next week for an in-depth look at how KDOT uses technology to combat winter weather. 

A view from the passenger seat looking into the rearview mirror shows the wing plow, a second, smaller plow that extends off the side of the truck, in action as it works to help clear to roads.

More winter weather could be on the way this weekend, so remember to drive for conditions. If the snow arrives, give our crews plenty of room to work. And check out www.kandrive.org for updated road conditions.