photo by: Journal-World

The Douglas County Public Works building, 3755 E 25th St.

Douglas County received a $500,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation to add a high-friction surface treatment to rural roads.

The funds will cover high-friction surface treatment in two locations – the first is on a curve on Route 1055 and the other is on the “approach to a high concern intersection” on Route 1061, a county spokesperson told the Journal-World via email. The treatment will increase traction and frictional characteristics of the road surface, which is meant for areas where pavement friction is low, like curves, steep grades and intersections.

This project was one of 11 rural roadway projects in Kansas receiving a total of $8.1 million in federal funds through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s High Risk Rural Roads, or HRRR, Program. Douglas County has received funding from this program to do high-friction surface treatment before for two routes in 2022.

The HRRR program is federally funded through the Highway Safety Improvement Program and is designed to improve the safety and efficiency of rural roads. This year’s 11 HRRR projects were selected from 29 applications seeking $29.9 million in funds, according to a press release from the state of Kansas.

Use of the KDOT funding will require approval from the County Commission, and the item will be reviewed at an upcoming meeting, which has not yet been scheduled.