A truck blocking U.S. Highway 24-40 creates a traffic jam east of Perry. Traffic was stalled for more than an hour Wednesday morning after a moving van tried to make a U-turn about 3 miles west of Hamm Quarry, but got hung up on the road because the trailer was too low.

Traffic backed up for more than an hour on U.S. Highway 24 east of Perry on Wednesday morning after a moving van became stuck when the driver tried to make an illegal U-turn.

Later Wednesday afternoon, troopers responded to another accident along the same Jefferson County stretch of road. No one was injured.

Transportation and law enforcement officials hope Wednesday’s incidents will not be a preview of traffic problems to come. With the Kansas River bridge near Lecompton under construction and closed for the next several months, other roads and highways in the area will have to bear heavier traffic loads.

“We’re aware that there’s going to be a problem and, of course, we’re going to be out in force,” said Technical Trooper Edna Buttler of the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The congestion on the highway between Lawrence and Perry is a concern to drivers because the closed bridge is along the only direct route between Lecompton and Perry, which are in the same school district.

At the request of Douglas County leaders, Kansas Department of Transportation staff members have put up lighted signs that show oncoming motorists what their speed is when they approach the area west of Midland Junction where the speed limit decreases to 45 mph, said Kim Qualls, a KDOT spokeswoman. Other safety features are in place there.

KDOT has also awarded a grant to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office so extra officers can patrol county roads and highways near Lecompton until the bridge reopens at the end of the summer.

“The sheriff (Ken McGovern) recognized that there would be an increase of traffic flow on different roads that could lead to an increase in accidents and an increase of speed due to lack of familiarity with roadways,” said sheriff’s spokeswoman Lt. Kari Wempe.

The Perry-Lecompton school district is adjusting its bus schedule for the longer commute to shuttle students from Lecompton.

In Jefferson County, no extra sheriff patrols are planned for now, Capt. Tim Byers said. He said the bridge closing had caused no major traffic problems that sheriff’s officers have dealt with.

The Wednesday morning incidents mainly caused inconvenience. At 9:15 a.m., the driver of a moving van attempted to make an illegal U-turn, became stuck and ended up blocking both lanes of the highway northwest of the Douglas-Jefferson county line. The roadway was blocked for more than an hour until the vehicle could be towed away.

Qualls said KDOT will look at ways to make other sections of the highway safer in the area if problems begin to develop.