The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to conduct pavement strength tests in Hamilton and Kearny Counties beginning Tuesday, July 26. All testing should be completed by the end of the week.

            The test sections include K-27 from Syracuse to the Hamilton/Greeley county line; K-25 from Lakin to the Kearny/Wichita county line; and U.S. 50 from Lakin to the Kearny/Finney county line.

            The testing crew will be using a pilot car operation to control traffic through the pavement test sections. The Kansas DOT urges drivers to be alert, pay attention to all work zone warning signs, slow down when approaching a work zone and be prepared to stop.

KDOT conducts these pavement tests annually on different highway segments, using a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), a device equipped with a series of weights that checks the strength of asphalt pavement.