KDOT’s Bridge Project Enhances Safety and Structures on US-59

Every year, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) invests in their infrastructure, replacing bridges across the state. Two US-59 bridges were selected, one over Stranger Creek Drainage and one over 262nd Road, for the 2025 effort. With this project, KDOT wanted to improve the road’s profile, improve the clearance over 262 Road, and replace these distressed, older structures.

To accomplish KDOT’s goals, our structural team designed a phased, reinforced concrete rigid frame box culvert at the Stranger Creek Drainage crossing. At the 262nd Road crossing, a phased 30’-40’-30’ reinforced concrete haunched slab bridge will provide the needed opening and clearance. The new crossings will have 44-ft roadways, 12-foot lanes, and 10-foot shoulders. This provides adequate space for cars to pull over, creating a safer environment.

At the Stranger Creek Drainage structure, the profile was raised to improve the highway geometrics, and the structure was lengthened to eliminate the need for guard fence. This required the channel to be improved along the highway. In addition to the sizing of the new structure and laying out the channel improvement, our stormwater team designed substantial stabilization improvements upstream. They recommended a new, two-cell, 12-foot by 12-foot RFB and added riffle and pools in multiple locations to protect the channel. These plans were made while our structural team tackled the phased bridge, keeping the project on schedule.

Because these bridges are located under US-59, construction phasing will be key to our success. Construction will start by reducing traffic to a single, signalized lane, allowing for partial removal of the existing structures. Once the first phase is completed, the traffic will be shifted onto the newly completed portions of the structures, and construction on the second half of the structures will start.

Construction for this project is expected to begin this spring. Upsizing the bridges and improving the side slopes and profile grade increases safety and supports improved traffic flow outside of Atchison.