Starting around Monday the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will begin an asphalt overlay project on US-56 Highway in Barton County, from the east city limits of Great Bend continuing east approximately 8 miles to the west city limits of Ellinwood.  
The first two weeks of this project will begin with pavement patching near the Fort Zarah Park and traffic will controlled in this area with temporary traffic signals. After the initial patching is complete the section of US-56 from the east city limits of Great Bend to the junction with K-156 will have the surfaced milled and a single lift asphalt overlay and the US-56 section from US-156 to west city of Ellinwood will received a multiple lift asphalt overlay. Traffic through this work zone will be controlled by flagmen and pilot car, so drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes. The work area will move daily and work will be underway during daylight hours only. This project is scheduled to be completed by late May, depending on delays caused by adverse weather conditions.
Venture Corporation from Great Bend is the prime contractor for this $4,354,821.95 project, which is funded by T-WORKS, the transportation program passed by the Kansas Legislature in May 2010. For more information about T-WORKS projects and funding visit the website, www.ksdot.org/tworks. Highway construction project locations and road condition information can be viewed at the http://511.ksdot.org website, or can also be accessed by telephone by dialing 511.
KDOT urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and “Give ‘Em a Brake!” when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. Persons with questions about this road work or other KDOT projects can call South Central Kansas Public Affairs Manager, Martin Miller, at 620-663-3361 or 1-877-550-5368 (Toll free).