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.

Antique bridge is being retired in Wilson County

This old metal bridge, which previously spanned the Fall River on Wilson County’s Granby Road, can be seen alongside the work zone where a new bridge is under construction.

A few miles west of Neodesha on Granby Road, crews are working to build a new bridge over the Fall River. To the side of the work zone sits the old truss bridge that is being replaced with a modern structure.

King Construction Company is the primary contractor on the project, funded under the Off-System Replacement Program.

The old bridge is a Pratt through truss that had been in service on Granby for over 100 years – since 1914, to be exact. Introduced in 1844, the Pratt truss style was designed by Thomas Willis Pratt and his father Caleb Pratt. Pratt truss bridges use a triangular design with diagonal members that slope toward the center of the bridge. When a vehicle crosses the bridge the diagonal members feel tension while the vertical components experience suspension. The overall condition of this Pratt truss was rated ‘poor’ and the bridge had posted weight limits.

The old Pratt through truss bridge was built in 1914.

King Construction Company, Inc., of Hesston is contractor on the bridge replacement at a construction cost of $888,000. The structure qualified for replacement under the 2017 Off-System Bridge Program. The new bridge should be finished and open to Granby traffic later this year.