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Posted by Mark Fagan on November 10, 2008 at 6:05 p.m.

Repairs could spur delays on I-435, U.S. 69

More news from the Kansas Department of Transportation about short-term construction that could cause traffic delays. ...In Johnson County, two projects will squeeze traffic along Interstate 435:¢ The westbound right two lanes and eastbound left two lanes will be closed from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Metcalf Avenue to U.S. Highway 69. The pavement-repair project is scheduled to be finished Thursday.¢ The eastbound left lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from U.S. 69 to Antioch Road. The project, described as "temporary barrier work," is scheduled to be finished Wednesday.Another project is set for Wyandotte County: U.S. 69, which is 18th Street, will be closed over the Kansas River Bridge for repairs. Traffic on U.S. 69 will not be allowed past Ruby Avenue on the south side of the bridge or past Kansas Avenue on the north side of the bridge. The work is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, and reopen to all traffic at 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 24.

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Posted by Mark Fagan on November 10, 2008 at 10:53 a.m.

Ramp repairs to close I-70 lanes Wednesday in Topeka; Super Bowl hype begins

Repairs scheduled along Interstate 70 near Gage Boulevard in Topeka will mean potential delays Wednesday for daytime drivers, as repair crews temporarily close one lane of traffic in each direction.The left lanes - one for traffic heading west, the other for vehicles moving east - are scheduled to be closed from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday between an area just east of the Gage exit to a spot just west of the interstate's interchange with U.S. Highway 75, said Kim Qualls, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Transportation.As always, she said, the scheduled closures are "weather permitting."The closures are designed to accommodate repair work on the bridge ramp from southbound U.S. 75 to eastbound Interstate 70, she said. The goal is to protect traffic on the interstate from "potential falling debris," Qualls said, as crews patch up pavement.As is customary with such work, drivers should expect minor delays and are advised to use alternate routes if possible, she said.¢ ¢ ¢Early drive: OK, so the Chiefs won't be in the Super Bowl. But at least now we know who'll be playing a major role in the second quarter.Cars.com, an online auto site, announced today that it had secured an advertising roster spot in Super Bowl XLIII (that's 43, for those not interested in the NFL-mandated use of Roman numerals). The game is set for Feb. 1 on NBC.The online business is counting on the single, 60-second spot to "continue to drive" brand recognition, said Mitch Golub, president of Cars.com.Word is that NBC is asking for $3 million for each 30-second spot, up from the $2.7 million per 30 seconds that had been sought by Fox for the most recent title game. The Chiefs didn't play in that one, either.During the last Super Bowl, Cars.com ran two 30-second ads:

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Posted by Mark Fagan on November 6, 2008 at 6:28 p.m.

I-435 and Antioch interchange to open Monday

A new interchange at Interstate 435 and Antioch Road in Johnson County is scheduled to open to all traffic by late Monday afternoon.The new interchange is scheduled to be open "completely" for all traffic, using all ramps to and from the interstate and all turn lanes onto the interstate from Antioch, said Kim Qualls, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Transportation.All that, of course, is "weather permitting," she said.The interchange is part of a four-year, $127 million project to upgrade U.S. Highway 69, I-435 and Antioch in Johnson County. The overall project is scheduled to be finished by late December.

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Posted by Mark Fagan on November 6, 2008 at 12:04 p.m.

Oakland Expressway set for lane closure

Drivers headed east on a bridge of the Oakland Expressway should expect minor delays Friday morning, as crews close the left lane to make drainage repairs.The lane on the expressway, which is Kansas Highway 4, will be closed over the bridge at the interchange with Sixth Street, which is U.S. Highway 40 in Topeka.The closure is set to begin at 9 a.m. and be completed by noon, said Kim Qualls, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Transportation.Drivers in the area should expect minor delays, she said.

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Posted by Mark Fagan on November 5, 2008 at 6:15 p.m.

I-70 delays coming to Wyandotte County

Drivers soon will have one fewer lane to use during their daytime drives into KC on Interstate 70.Beginning Monday, crews will close down the left lane of the interstate between 86th and 78th streets in Wyandotte County. The closure will allow contractors to make repairs beneath the road surface, to halt deterioration on top.The closure is scheduled to be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; such work will occur only during daytime hours, and be conducted weekdays and, possibly, some Saturdays, said Kim Qualls, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Transportation.Varying lane closures are scheduled to occur throughout the month along the eastbound lanes of the interstate, from Interstate 435 to 78th Street, Qualls said."Drivers should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes, if possible," she said.The $93,721 repair project should be finished by the end of November, Qualls said.

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Posted by Mark Fagan on October 15, 2008 at 3:22 p.m.

Avoid the rut; keep an eye out for deer

Watch out for deer.That's the latest advice from Lawrence's own Sandy Praeger, Kansas insurance commissioner, who has put out a list of defensive-driving suggestions for folks statewide.Chances for deer-vehicle accidents -- "a frightening reality of driving on Kansas roads and highways this time of year" -- are highest during the middle of fall and the middle of spring, she said. That's when the most deer are visible on and alongside roads. Blame deer mating habits in the fall and plentiful plants in the spring.The [Kansas Department of Transportation][1] reports that the number of deer-vehicle accidents in 2007 hit 9,417, up 2.4 percent from a year earlier. The accidents left five people dead, up from three a year earlier, and 298 people injured, up from 291 in 2006.Statewide, according to KDOT, the accidents caused $61.3 million in damage.In Douglas County alone there were 195 deer-vehicle accidents last year, including 18 in Lawrence."I urge Kansans to drive cautiously, especially around sunrise and sunset," Praeger said.To that end, Praeger offers these driving tips:¢ Stay alert, always wear your seat belt and drive at a safe, sensible speed for conditions.¢ Watch for the reflection of deer eyes and for deer silhouettes on the shoulder of the road.¢ Do not rely exclusively on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer.¢ When driving at night, use high-beam headlights when there is no opposing traffic. The high beams will illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a roadway.¢ Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious accidents occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit other vehicles or lose control of their cars. Potentially, you will risk less injury by hitting the deer.¢ If the deer stays on the road, stop on the shoulder, put on your hazard lights and wait for the deer to leave the roadway; do not try to go around the deer while it is on the road.¢ If you do hit a deer and are uncertain whether the animal is dead, keep your distance. You are dealing with an injured, wild animal with sharp hooves that can inflict serious bodily injury.¢ If the deer is blocking the roadway and poses a danger to other motorists, you should immediately report the incident to the local law enforcement agency.Praeger also encourages Kansans to review the insurance policies on their vehicles, to see what kinds of coverages they offer for vehicle accident damage."With the cost of repairs climbing every year, Kansans are smart consumers when they review their vehicle coverages on a regular basis," she said. [1]: http://www.ksdot.org/burTransPlan/prodinfo/accista.asp

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Posted by Mark Fagan on October 13, 2008 at 3:55 p.m.

Traffic-safety poster boy hails from Eudora

![][1]A fourth-grader from Eudora is being honored for a poster he created to help boost awareness of traffic safety in Kansas.Trevor Neis, a 10-year-old student at West Elementary School in Eudora, was a regional winner in a contest conducted by the Kansas Department of Transportation as a prelude for Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, which is this coming Saturday, Oct. 18.Trevor's poster - a colorful, detailed depiction of a rural railroad crossing - reminds drivers to "Stop for the Train." The poster also includes a list that outlines what contributes to traffic fatalities (drunken driving, drowsy driving and others in the "Deaths" column) and what can be done to avoid such problems (listed in the "To Prevent Deaths" column).Among Trevor's tips: Wear seat belts, use car seats, drive while wide awake and adhere to a "no distracting the driver" policy.Trevor's poster was among a record 1,574 entries for the contest's three youth divisions. Trevor won among 8- to 10-year-olds in northeast Kansas; students from Manhattan won for 5- to 7-year-olds and for 11- to 13-year-olds in the region."The unique thing about this contest is it focuses on the youth in Kansas, and helps to instill safety in our youth," said Kim Qualls, a department spokeswoman. "This helps them understand the importance of safety in all facets, whether it's in a car, at a railroad crossing or simply crossing the street. "It puts safety foremost in the minds of youth, so they understand how important it is to be safe in everything they do."Trevor is scheduled to receive his award during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wal-Mart, 1501 S.W. Wanamaker Road in Topeka. He will receive a new bike, donated by the store; and a new bike helmet, from Safe Kids Kansas.Saturday's event is scheduled to include a variety of safety events conducted by the Topeka Fire Department, Shawnee County Sheriff's Department and Kansas Department of Transportation. [1]: http://worldonline.media.clients.elli...

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Posted by Mark Fagan on October 10, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.

Expect I-70 delays next week in Wyandotte County

Drivers using Interstate 70 to make their way back toward Lawrence from the Kansas City area next week could find themselves dealing with some delayed delays.Crews from Comanche Construction Inc. are scheduled to begin repairs Monday on the I-70 bridges for westbound traffic between 18th and 38th streets in Wyandotte County.The $13,920 project - to repair bridge joints - originally had been expected to begin Oct. 6.Traffic will be reduced to one lane beginning at 9 a.m. each day, with all lanes to reopen to traffic by 3:30 p.m. each day. The project is scheduled to run through Friday, weather permitting.

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Posted by Mark Fagan on October 9, 2008 at 4:22 p.m.

Delays coming to I-70 in Topeka

Drivers heading into Topeka on Interstate 70 should expect delays during the daytime Friday, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.The department reports that the left lane of I-70, for traffic heading west, will be closed beginning at 8:30 a.m. Friday from just west of the Gage Boulevard interchange to just west of the U.S. Highway 75 interchange.The closure is scheduled to allow crews to conduct overhead bridge repairs. The stretch of highway is expected to have all its lanes open to traffic by 4 p.m.

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Posted by Mark Fagan on October 8, 2008 at 11:59 a.m.

Wichita firm recalling amusement rides

![][1]Always on the lookout for transportation news, an item out this morning caught my eye: "CPSC and Chance Rides Manufacturing Announce Recall to Inspect and Repair YO-YO Amusement Rides."That's the headline on an [announcement][2] from the [Consumer Product Safety Commission][3] that 85 YO-YO rides made by [Chance Rides][4], in Wichita, are being recalled.A YO-YO accommodates up to 32 riders in individual swings, arranged in a circle and dangling from arms that lift up once the ride begins, suspending riders in the air. The ride turns, in a circle, up to 10 times per minute, pushing riders outward. The ride also can tilt up to 10 degrees.Turns out 23 folks were injured while riding on a YO-YO, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. That incident occurred in May, in California, when the ride's arms broke away from the central cylinder, sending all of the chairs to the ground.The plan now is for the company to send out inspection/repair kits to help make sure that all is well with the YO-YO units, which were built from the late 1970s into the 1990s."It's been a long-standing design," Jeff Roth, vice president for administration at Chance Rides, told me this morning. "It's been running without fail for 30-plus years. It's incumbent upon the owners to use good maintenance practices. To make it easier for them to inspect components of the YO-YO, we've come up with this kit."A YO-YO was operational this year at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, brought in by the fair's amusement contractor, North American Midways. Fair officials report that they didn't have any problems with the YO-YO or any rides this year.For a closer look at the ride and its specifications, click [here][5] and scroll over to the YO-YO photo.The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that it "is working with state regulators and insurance providers to ensure that these safety inspections and modifications are conducted."The commission's [list][6] of regulators and inspectors maintains that Kansas does not have any specific statutes requiring licenses, permits or inspections for amusement rides. But that changed during the latest legislative session, giving the Kansas Department of Labor jurisdiction regarding inspections.Chance Rides describes itself as the largest U.S. manufacturer of amusement rides and people movers. It has 120 employees at its 300,000-square-foot plant in Wichita. [1]: http://worldonline.media.clients.elli... [2]: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09005.html [3]: http://www.cpsc.gov/ [4]: http://www.chancemorgan.com/ [5]: http://www.chancemorgan.com/thrillrides3.html [6]: http://www2.ljworld.com/documents/2008/oct/08/amusement_regulators_list/

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