PHOTOS | Construction crew hits gas line, sparks fire

Posted: September 20, 2013 - 8:32pm
Updated: September 21, 2013 - 7:18am

Photo Courtesy: Overland Park Fire Department
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Overland Park firefighters responded on a struck natural gas line Friday evening.

Atmos Energy was digging near the intersection of 151st Street and Switzer Road before 8 p.m. Friday, when a backhoe struck a four-inch natural gas line.

The strike broke the gas line and the escaping gas ignited. Atmos crews immediately notified the Overland Park Fire Department of the break and fire.

Overland Park Fire officials say firefighters cleared the area and stood by, while Atmos crews stopped the flow of gas through the line.

The fire was extinguished around 10 p.m., the intersection remained closed at that time so that KCP&L crews could inspect possible damage to nearby poles and equipment.

One home was evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

As of 7:15 a.m., Saturday, the intersection remained closed for KCP&L crews to repair damage. KCP&L says no one is without power due to the repairs.

Photo from Overland Park Traffic Camera at 151st & Switzer
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Driver identified in fatal Interstate 435 accident

Posted: May 11, 2012 - 2:32am
Updated: May 11, 2012 - 11:43am

Update: The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the deceased driver as, 22-year-old, Clayton S. McCully of Bonner Springs, Kansas. Troopers say McCully was traveling southbound on Interstate 435 at milepost 8.8, or .2 miles south of Woodend Avenue in Edwardsville, when his vehicle collided with a stationary construction vehicle.

According to Troopers, the stationary construction vehicle, a 2006 Chevrolet C5500 Truck, was parked inside a construction zone transition area. The area was marked with orange cones, yellow lights, and an arrow board indicating for traffic to move over to the right. For an unknown reason, McCully's 2002 Ford Ranger, continued into the construction area where it crashed into the rear of the parked truck.

Troopers say McCully was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Original Post:

The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating after an early morning fatality accident on Interstate 435 in Wyandotte County.

Troopers say the accident occurred around 2 a.m. when a southbound 2002 Ford Ranger crashed into the back of a parked construction signal truck at the beginning of a construction site.

Dispatchers say the accident was reported just before 2:15 a.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 435 near Woodend Road. The accident was reported by the construction crew. No one was in the signal truck when the accident occurred. There are not believed to be any witnesses to the crash.

Edwardsville Fire and Police responded to the scene and reported a small pickup truck had crashed into a construction truck. Command reported that the single occupant of the pickup truck was deceased and would require extended extrication.

The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department also sent units to the scene who assisted with the accident, including a Haz-Mat unit for a fuel spill. The impact of the pickup truck into the construction truck is said to have punctured the construction truck's fuel tank.

The deceased driver has only been identified as a white male in his mid-twenties.

Troopers say the highway was never closed southbound. Traffic was restricted to only one lane for nearly four hours. All lanes reopened to traffic just after 5:45 a.m..

No other information was immediately available.

Stay with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you head this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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JoCo Traffic Alert - I-35 & I-435 interchange

Posted: December 28, 2011 - 5:57am

The Kansas Department of Transportation is warning motorists of an upcoming ramp closure that will affect the ramp from southbound Interstate 35 to eastbound Interstate 435 in Lenexa.

Diamond grinding work will force KDOT to close the ramp on Thursday, December 29th between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m..

Advance message boards will alert drivers to the ramp closure and no marked detour will be provided. Drivers should expect delays and use alternate routes to avoid traffic congestion.

All project work is scheduled to be completed on Thursday, December 29th, weather permitting.

Information provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation.

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Interstate 35 traffic alert for Sunday, November 13th

Posted: November 10, 2011 - 11:29am

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced this morning that on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at approximately 5:00 a.m., northbound and southbound Interstate 35 at College Boulevard will be subject to a short, 10-minute traffic disruption. The traffic disruption, will allow utility crews to pull overhead cable across the interstate.

Traffic will be directed by Law Enforcement using rolling roadblocks. The rolling roadblock for southbound traffic will begin at Interstate 435, and for northbound traffic at 119th Street. Law Enforcement will slow all traffic for approximately 10-minutes beginning at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday.

The rolling roadblock will be forced to come to a stop if the utility crews have not completed their work when the rolling roadblock approaches. Once the utility crews have completed their work all traffic will be reopened as normal. All work will be completed Sunday morning, November 13th, weather permitting.

KDOT advises that drivers should expect some delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes, if possible. 

All information provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation.

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More construction coming to K-10

Posted: October 25, 2011 - 4:15am

Updated: October 31, 2011 - 6:00am

The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced that on Monday, October 31st, a contractor will begin work on an emergency bridge repair project along K-10. Locations effected by the repair work include the westbound K-10 bridges over Lexington Avenue, Kill Creek and Mill Creek, in Johnson County. The work  will occur during daylight hours, Monday through Friday.

The project will begin at 7 a.m. on Monday, October 31st and westbound K-10 will be reduced to one lane, 24/7, round the clock, from Ridgeview Road to Woodland Avenue (approximately one mile), in Lenexa and from the Kill Creek bridge to Lexington Avenue (approximately one and a half miles) in De Soto. Concrete barriers will be in place and a 55 mph speed limit posted throughout the project work zone. A 12-foot lane width restriction will also be in place, as well as no shoulder availability over bridges throughout the length of the project.

Advance signage will be in place to alert drivers to the lane closures. Drivers through the area should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes as possible.

PCI Roads will be the primary contractor for the $91,094 bridge repair project. The project is scheduled to be fully compelted by mid-November 2011, weather permitting. This project is funded by T-WORKS, the transportation program passed by the Kansas Legislature in May 2010. More information on this and other T-WORKS projects can be found at http://kdotapp.ksdot.org/TWORKS. 

KDOT reminds all motorists to be alert, obey warning signs and "Give 'Em a Brak!" when approaching and driving through project work zones.

All information provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation.

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Johnson Drive closure

Posted: October 21, 2011 - 3:40pm

Updated: October 28, 2011 - 6:24pm

UPDATE: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad has announced that this closure will remain in place until Saturday  November 5th. Construction was initially scheduled to be completed by October 29th. No reason was given for the extension.

Starting Saturday, October 22, 2011, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) has closed a stretch of Johnson Drive in Merriam. The closure extends from between Slater Street and Kessler Lane, about 0.27 miles. This closure will also force Interstate 35 traffic to seek an alternate route as all of the ramps between Interstate 35 and Johnson Drive are also closed.

Click map to view larger
Routes marked in red will be closed

Traffic controls and marked detours will be posted on all sides of the closure notifying motorists and providing alternate routes.

The closure is in place to allow the BNSF to complete a reconstruction of the mainline railroad crossing at Johnson Drive and is expected to remain in place through Saturday, October 29, 2011. The length of the closure could be shorter or longer depending on weather and construction conditions.

Anyone with questions or concerns regarding the project is directed to the following

• Merriam's City Engineer - (913) 322-5522
• Merriam Public Works Department - (913) 322-5570
• BNSF Roadmaster - (913) 807-0071

All information provided by the City of Merriam, Kansas and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.

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Street closures coming to Lawrence

Posted: October 17, 2011 - 3:23am
Updated: October 17, 2011 - 6:30am

The City of Lawrence has announced that beginning Monday, October 17th, the roundabout at Harvard and Monterey Way will be closing until Friday, October 21st or as weather permits.

The closure is due to a leak in an 8-inch water main valve. A news release from the city says that the conditions surrounding the valve are more complex due to the depth of rock and pavers in the intersection. The repairs need to occur immediately to avoid hazardous road conditions that may result from colder weather predicted in the coming weeks. The work will be completed by a contractor.

Southbound traffic will be allowed through the roundabout; northbound traffic on Monterey Way and westbound traffic on Harvard will not be allowed. The city is encouraging motorists to utilize alternate routes to avoid the site and minimize backups. Detours will also be in place.

All information provided by the City of Lawrence.

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KDOT: Construction on K-10 suspended until further notice

The Kansas Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that work on K-10 from the east city limits of Lawrence to the Douglas/Johnson county line has been suspended until further notice.

KDOT says that the public will be notified at least two days prior to the work beginning. This project is still listed to be completed by November. No word given on the cause for the delay.

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Johnson County Sheriff's Office hosting a Heavy Equipment Theft Summit

Johnson County Sheriff's Office Press Release:

Lenexa, Kan. – The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Theft Reports of Agricultural and Construction Equipment (T.R.A.C.E.) program is hosting a first of its kind Heavy Equipment Theft Summit in Johnson County on September 20, 2011.  This summit is designed to bring together law enforcement officers, equipment owners, dealers, rental companies and insurance adjusters and agents together to discuss ways to prevent heavy equipment theft and enhance recovery. 

The summit will feature break-out classes with presentations from top industry experts from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, National Equipment Register and law enforcement.  During these sessions they will discuss the growing problem of construction and agricultural equipment theft, the challenges that hinder equipment recovery and the latest in equipment security technologies.  In addition, equipment will be on hand for participants to practice the techniques they learn to locate data necessary to identify and unite it with the owners.

The summit will be held September 20, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 12601 W. 95th Street, Lenexa, KS, 66215.  Media is welcome at this event and interviews with field experts will be available.  Those who have not already registered are welcome to attend and may register the day of the event.

The T.R.A.C.E. program began in early 2010 and now has over 300 registered participants throughout the metro area, Kansas and Missouri.  The program intends to efficiently get information regarding stolen farm equipment, livestock theft, livestock recovery, construction equipment and suspicious activities distributed across Johnson and the surrounding counties.  The objective is to quickly inform all participants of suspicious activities and crime in their neighborhood, farming community and construction sites.  

Agriculture producers, livestock owners, farmers cooperatives, implement dealers, construction business or insurance companies or anything close are invited to register for the program.  To register go to the Johnson County Sheriff’s website at www.jocosheriff.org, click on the T.R.A.C.E. logo and register.  Registration is not limited to Johnson County residents, as surrounding counties are encouraged to participate as well.