Kdot

We all know the heat affects our cars, our pets, our bodies, and our electric bills.  But it also affects what's under our car tires. The string of triple digit temperatures that have blanketed Kansas have weakened area asphalt and pavement.  "The heat causes the pavement to expand, and you'll see that on sidewalks and driveways and street pavement.  Where it will buckle up, causing bumps in the pavement," said Mike Rodee, owner of...

Remember the long lines and chaos at Kansas tag offices last summer?  It was all the result of a $40 million DMV computer system upgrade.  It was paid for with a $40 million modernization fee added to every vehicle registration.  The legislature approved the fee in 2008.  But it was supposed to be eliminated at the end of last year.  Supposed to be. "I actually didn't know anything about it. I just pay what they tell me I have to have...

Wichita police and other law enforcement agencies have a message for you - Click It or Ticket... Drivers can expect to see increased enforcement of seat belt laws as part of the 2013 Kansas Click It or Ticket traffic enforcement campaign. That campaign runs from Monday, May 20 through Sunday, June 2 and is paid for through a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation. Police say drivers can expect strict enforcement of both the Safety Belt Use Act and the Child Passenger Safety Act. More on Kansas Seat Belt Laws from the Wichita Police Department: Cops can stop vehicles and issue tickets whenever they see front seat occupants or children under 14 riding without proper restraint.

A Wichita family learned the hard way that when you have a wreck you may be paying for more than just car repairs. When you wreck your car you expect to pay for the repairs. What about the damage you do to state property?  “Out of the blue I got this letter from an attorney for an accident that happened a year ago,” says Margaret Kounter who called FactFinder 12 wanting an answer. She got a bill for more than $1,800 from attorneys representing the State of Kansas.

Update: Wichita has canceled the Emergency Accident Reporting Plan (EARP).  If you are involved in a crash, call 911. Also today, Waste Management says it will not provide any residential service.  That includes customers in Wichita, Derby, Belle Plain, Haysville, Peck, Clearwater, Mulvane and Rose Hill. Many schools across Kansas, including Wichita, have called off class for the day.  You'll find a complete list of school and community closings below.  School and Weather-Related Closings Road conditions are improving, but they are still far from ideal.  The city of Wichita hired extra help to plow the city streets.  The city hired 21 contractors to work along with the 50 city plows which were already on the street.  Those crews are working 12-hour shifts to keep the roads plowed.  Crews will not plow side streets or residential areas because plowing causes more problems than it solves.  Plows push snow up into driveways and onto cars parked along the curb.

Now that both snowstorms have passed we're getting an idea of just how much the winter mess will cost you.  The storms dropped a record 21 inches of snow in Wichita and the recovery costs continue to climb. Wednesday morning's commute was a mess, which means crews are still working "They'd hit slick spots on the overpasses and bridges and slide out of control," said Master Trooper Eric Molleker. At least a dozen accidents closed down the eastbound lanes of Highway 254 at the Hillside exit for most of the morning commute.

KDOT crews will start making repairs on K-96 from Greenwich Road to U.S. 54 beginning Wednesday, June 13th. The project will involve single lane and occasional ramp closurs Sunday-Friday nights from 6:30 pm to 7:30 am, plus extended work hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Speed limits in the work zone will be reduced to 50 miles per hour. The work is part of T-Works, an $8-billion, 10-year project approved by the 2010 Kansas legislature.

By John Boyd The Kansas Department of Transportation hopes purple-colored pavement will help make roads safer near Minneola.  KDOT is taking part in a research project that includes installling purple pavement on US-283 at the north and south ends of Minneola beginning October 29th. Map of Minneola The purple pavement is achieved using a product called Tyregrip over the existing pavement.  According to the manufacturer, Ennis Paint, Inc., the pavement, provides traffic calming by alerting drivers to upcoming changes far enough in advance to aid driver decision-making.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Travelers in Kansas have a new way to see where they're going -- literally. The Kansas Department of Transportation's road condition Web site now has camera views of eight busy locations on Kansas highways, and there are more to come. KDOT says the locations were selected because they are placed widely enough to show conditions across the state. The current sites include four along Interstate 70 -- at Junction City, Salina, Walker (nine miles east of Hays)

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - It's one thing to hear about potholes and state budgets. It's another to see how the two are connected. That's part of the thinking behind a new video presentation on YouTube this week from the Kansas Department of Transportation. Using still photographs, charts and video, the transportation department produced a video that explains the impact of reducing state spending for road maintenance. Click to Watch the Video Secretary Deb Miller says Wednesday the video is meant to show Kansans and people interested in highway spending the impact of highway spending being reduced by $257 million during the past year.