Starting around Monday, the Kansas Department of Transportation will begin an asphalt paving project on U.S. 281 highway in Barton County, KDOT spokesperson Martin Miller said Thursday.
This project starts at the Stafford/Barton county line continues north approximately seven miles to the south city limits of Great Bend, skips the U.S. 281 section inside the city limits of Great Bend, then starts again at the north city limits of Great Bend and continues north approximately nine miles to the south city limits of Hoisington. These sections of U.S. 281 will have the surfaced milled followed later with an asphalt overlay.
This highway construction project is scheduled to be completed in late October, depending on delays due to adverse weather conditions, Miller said.
Traffic through this work zone will be controlled by flagmen and pilot car, so drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes. There will be a 13 foot width restriction in the work zone, so vehicles with widths wider than 13 feet will need to use an alternate route. The work zone area will move daily and work will be underway during daylight hours only. Highway construction project locations and road condition information can be viewed at the 511.ksdot.org website, or can also be accessed by telephone by dialing 511.
Venture Corp. from Great Bend is the prime contractor for this $2,511,107 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.
Miller said KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone.
Persons with questions about the 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).