Structural flaws on U.S.-50 require repairs to highway years ago
Data did not indicate need for four-lane highway, said KDOT official
Staff reporter
Structural problems have required additional maintenance and road repairs to U.S.-50, said Steve Swartz, Kansas Department of Transportation public information officer.
"Different sections are being repaired at different times but this highway did have some structural problems," Swartz said in a telephone interview, "and are being corrected with the construction and repairs currently going on."
When the highway was completed in 1995, the design was for 20 to 25 years.
"Typically, roads are designed to last 25 years before they have to have improvements," Swartz said.
When plans were made to expand U.S.-50, officials discussed the possibility of a four-lane highway.
"When data was plugged in for U.S.-50, it showed the work needed to be done but it showed a super two-lane was sufficient," said Swartz.
Two-lane was chosen over four-lane based on formulas, explained Swartz. KDOT reviews traffic counts, deficiencies in the road, accident rates, and roadway and bridge geometrics (hills, curves, etc.).
The road work was ranked with other projects around the state. Projects with the highest relative need were scheduled first.
"Highways with 5,000 to 7,000 vehicles per day is when they start seriously looking at four-lane highways," Swartz said. He explained the highway count was higher on U.S.-50, closer to Newton and Emporia.
"The traffic count starts to get to 5,000," Swartz said. But, he added, stretches in between are from 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles daily.
"This is just one piece of the formula," Swartz said. "The upgrades reflected it was an important improvement."
Swartz said highways in need of replacement or repair are prioritized.
According to KDOT statistics in 1992, when the new highway was designed, U.S.-50 counts indicated an average daily vehicle count of 5,240 at Emporia with 1,378 being commercial vehicles. That same year, Newton area had a count of 4,600 vehicles with 1,130 being commercial traffic.
"Today's traffic count has definitely increased," Swartz said. "The total annual average daily traffic (AADT) on this section of U.S.-50 ranges from about 2,400 to 6,100, depending on location," said Swartz. "Commercial truck traffic AADT ranges from 1,750 to 2,050, depending on the location."
Swartz said KDOT stands by its design for the highway.
"It was designed for the amount of traffic it currently has, including truck traffic," Swartz said.
