Fall/Winter 2016
Interesting Facts
 The Hugoton Gas Field is the
largest natural gas field in the
United States. It underlies all or
parts of 10 southwestern Kansas counties as well as parts of
Oklahoma and Texas. The gas
field underlies almost 8,500
square miles, an area nearly 5
times as large as the state of
Rhode Island.
 Born Marion Robert Morrison
in Winterset, Iowa, John Wayne
was the son of a pharmacist and
grew up to become one of
Hollywood's most popular
movie stars.
 In Arkansas, 47 hot springs flow
from the southwestern slope of
Hot Springs Mountain, at an
average temperature of 143F.
 Born in 1879 on a large ranch in
the Cherokee Nation near what
later would become Oologah,
Oklahoma, Will Rogers was
first an Indian, a cowboy then a
national figure. Will Rogers was
a star of Broadway, 71 movies
of the 1920s and 1930s, a popular broadcaster and wrote more
than 4,000 syndicated newspaper columns.
 In Colorado, the Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel between Clear Creek & Summit
counties is the highest auto
tunnel in the world. Bored at an
elevation of 11,000 feet under
the Continental Divide it is
8,960 feet long and the average
daily traffic exceeds 26,000
vehicles.
http://www.50states.com/facts
Inside this issue:
Road Construction Ahead
2
Traffic Control
2
SWPPP
3
Changing Profile Specs.
3
Teledoc
New Website
4
4
benefitsCONNECT
5
Wellworks
5
2016 Highlights
6
50 years ago
6
2016 Hardroaders
7
Welcome to Koss
8
K
oss Construction Company
has long been recognized for
being at the forefront when it
comes to accepting challenges or
implementing new equipment
and technologies. Our current
project on I-49 in Northwest
Arkansas near Fayetteville is a
great example. The project is
approximately 30 miles long and
consists of concrete pavement
patching, diamond grinding, asphalt shoulder reconstruction,
concrete joint rehabilitation, two
(2) new miles of concrete barrier
wall, safety improvements and
the application of a pavement
waterproofing agent.
gates reacts with alkali hydroxide in cement to form an expanding gel which causes
premature failures in the concrete. Moisture contributes to
this reaction and silane is the
new barrier.
Deteriorated concrete panels
are first patched and then the
entire lanes are diamond
ground to improve the ride
quality and provide good,
clean “surface preparation”
for the silane product. Koss
quickly decided to design their
own self-propelled silane applicator cart that ensures the
uniform coverage rate needed
to achieve the required 3/8”
penetration into the pavement
surface. The cart’s travel speed
is completely synchronized
with the output of the silane
pump.
What is new and different is the
waterproofing agent, a chemical
called silane, which in the past
was primarily used on structures.
We are now utilizing silane on
pavements to mitigate a problem
known as Alkali-Silica Reaction, Once all of the pavement is
or “ASR”. ASR occurs when silane treated, deteriorated
silica material in concrete aggre- asphalt shoulders will be
milled out and resurfaced with
2” of hot mix, rumble strip
will be installed and all joints
will be sawed and cleaned to
receive new sealant.
The Arkansas Highway and
Transportation Department
has developed enough confidence in the benefits of silane
that they have elected to treat
the 40 bridge decks and parapet walls on the project bringing to the total area of silane
treatment to over one million
square yards.
Kelly Moore, Koss Special
Projects Manager stated, “It is
always nice when new challenges are able to be pursued
and successfully conquered so
you can take pride in overcoming the obstacles that go
along with them.”
The continued budget issues with the State of Kansas have put handcuffs on KDOT’s ability to bid all types of
projects. However there are projects scheduled to bid over the next several months that include the reconstruction of two sections of I-70 in the western half of the state, and a few asphalt overlays spread around the state.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has a program in place right now to expand and modernize multiple routes
including widening the Turner Turnpike just west of Tulsa, extending the Kilpatrick Turnpike and creating a
new Turnpike on the east side of Oklahoma City.
Nebraska continues to be a bright spot for upcoming projects. A short list includes continued I-80 reconstruction, and US-30 & US-75 modernization projects over the next year.
Construction continues in Arkansas with their Interstate Rehabilitation Program and the Connecting Arkansas
Program. We will be looking at all opportunities available including work to expand US-67, expand I-30 and reconstruct I-440.
A
s the paver is fired up in the early morning and
the sun begins to rise, the focus becomes
reaching 300 plus batches or hitting that one mile
paving day. With these goals brings the proper coordination and planning to get our products delivered from the plant to the paver as fast as possible.
It is almost second nature to us, but traffic control
is a critical part of our work to meet those goals. We
work among the public in a unique way each and
every day. In some cases traffic is passing by within
a couple feet of us, our equipment and co-workers.
In certain scenarios we have to adjust our barricades
and barrels to complete our work. At the end of the
day or when the work is completed, traffic control
should be set back up as the traffic control plans
show. Thoughts that someone else will pick it up or
a "that's not my job" kind of attitude can lead to a
variety of accidents ranging from minor to life
threatening. Each project is given an approved traffic control plan to follow by our owners. These
Page 2
plans show in detail locations of specific signs or
barricades and the correct
spacing. Koss could be
held liable if an accident
were to happen on one of
our projects and we were
not following the owners
plans. It is easy to become complacent of a
barricade that was moved
or a barrel that was
knocked over as we strive
to complete our work.
White or yellow hat, it is
everyone's responsibility and duty to make sure the traffic
control is set up correctly.
TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE MUST DO THE LITTLE
THINGS RIGHT!!!
The Hard Roaders Outlook
Stormwater. The runoff water
from rain or snowfall, that
means a day off to rest because
the grade is wet and we can’t get
down the haul road, right?
Wrong, stormwater compliance
is a priority to our owners and
this company. In order to keep
the projects in good standing,
devices are installed, reports are
written, pictures are taken and
meetings are held. Dumpsters,
portable toilets, fueling locations, and plant sites are all part
of a large list of items that get
inspected and reviewed daily for
A
key factor owners use to determine project success is pavement smoothness. The general public
views our completed projects almost solely through
this prism of judgment. As a company, we have always
delivered high-quality pavements regarding smoothness. During the last 20 years the equipment we use to
measure smoothness has changed, but the technique
and measuring unit have stayed static. The profilograph index (PrI) is this measurement and all of the
states we currently work in, except Nebraska, still adhere to this measurement type. Nebraska has moved
to evaluating pavement with a new analysis process
called the International Roughness Index (IRI). The
IRI is collected using an inertial profiler such as our
Ames Engineering LISA profilometer mounted on a
gator. IRI is a function of the measured road profile
and inertial data gathered by the profilograph. Inertial
and profile data are then analyzed by the profilograph
computer, and an IRI is determined.
their conditions. The environment
we work in and the pressure we work
under are always a challenge; however the silt fence we drive over or the
sand bag we throw out-of-the-way
can cost real money. Fines can be
assessed and production can be
stopped if compliance is not maintained. Continue to take pride in our
work and our project sites by keeping
wash-out pits lined, waste materials
removed, inventoried items neat and
orderly all while taking ownership of
the products we deliver every day.
tered this measurement type. Missouri has also adopted
the IRI, and it is only a matter of time before Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas switch as well. As long as we
continue to pride ourselves on smooth pavements and
expend effort to accomplish this goal, the measurement type may change, but our overall smoothness satisfaction with the owners will continue to exceed their
expectations.
The Nebraska specification is where the industry is
moving regarding pavement smoothness testing.
Working in Nebraska the last couple of years has given
us a leg up on the competition that has not encounFall/Winter 2016
Page 3
The Doctor is in… from anywhere, at any time, 24/7/365
What is Teladoc?
Teladoc is a service that lets you talk with a doctor 24/7/365. Using the service is completely voluntary – you decide if and
when you’d like to use it. Teladoc is a leader in Telehealth, with more than 1,000,000 doctor consultations performed since
2002, a national network of experienced doctors, and an average call back time of 10 minutes. Teladoc provides convenient,
high quality healthcare to its members. Copay for using Teledoc is $45 for QHDHP plans and no copay for all other plans.
What conditions can I get care for?
Their doctors can diagnose and treat many non-emergency conditions, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cold and flu symptoms
Respiratory infection
Sinus problems
Ear infections
Skin problems
And more!
To request a consultation:
Simply log in to your account or call 1-800-Teladoc to request a phone or online video consult with a Teladoc
doctor Using Teladoc is as easy as 1, 2, and 3
•
•
•
Step 1: Contact Teladoc 24/7/365 – access to Teladoc’s nationwide network of board
certified doctors is available to you by phone, video or mobile app.
Step 2: Talk with a doctor – a doctor will review your medical history
and contact you in minutes.
Step 3: Resolve the issue – a doctor will diagnose and prescribe medication, if medically
necessary, electronically to the pharmacy of your choice.
When should I use Teladoc?
•
•
•
•
When you need care now
If you’re considering the ER or urgent care center for a non-emergency issue
On vacation, on a business trip or away from home
For short term prescription refills
NEW WEBSITE
Koss Construction is rolling out a new website platform
beginning in November 2016. As we continue to enhance employee programs, we are also looking to improve our forms of communication. In an effort to “go
green” and offer multiple ways to reach employees
across the field, the new website will become a portal
for employees to see everything from company projects
to information and links for benefit services. In addition, future enhancements of the website will include an
Employee Intranet that can be accessed from any computer or mobile device.
Page 4
The Hard Roaders Outlook
T
oday, benefitsCONNECT is the most experienced benefits administration software company in the marketplace, and they are now a part of the Koss
open enrollment process for 2017. Focusing on our need to bring automation
to our benefits program, while making the process easier and more portable for
employees, benefitsCONNECT has provided Koss with customized solutions and a “keep it simple” approach that will make open enrollment easier
and more efficient.
Beginning October 31st, every Koss employee will have the ability to log into the benefitsCONNECT portal to
view their current benefits and to enroll in 2017 benefits options. Koss Human Resources representatives will be
at each worksite during open enrollment to assist with online enrollment. Please review the insurance options in
advance so that your preliminary selections can be entered. Changes can be made at any time up until Friday, November 11, 2016, when the online selections become final.
Koss Construction has recently teamed up with Wellworks For You to create a companywide health and wellness
program designed to help employees achieve optimal health and vitality. Together, we believe that investing in the
health of the team will impact the health of your extended families and the overall health and culture of Koss
Construction. Employees will have new opportunities to engage in healthy habits, and earn incentives for doing
so! Your personal Wellness Portal contains all the tools you need to get started on your path to success. Once
registered, employees will have access to an interactive fitness and nutrition tracker, weekly meal plans and grocery lists, monthly newsletters,
health risk assessments, tobacco cessation program and tips, wellness
challenges, gym discounts, the ability to sync their device or app to the
Wellness Portal, and more! Wellworks For You was created as a vehicle
to assist employers in designing and implementing a comprehensive
wellness program. We recognize that healthy minds and healthy bodies
are the catalyst to a successful working environment. We are excited to
begin working with the Wellworks Team in 2017!
Fall/Winter 2016
Page 5
2016 Highlights from the Paving Crew…
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Finished the concrete paving on Koss #91 in Greenwood County, Kansas
Completed 10,000 feet of concrete barrier wall on Koss #97 near Fayetteville, Arkansas
Wrapped up all the concrete paving on Koss #90 at Sidney, Nebraska
Paved 225,000 square yards of concrete on Koss #96 near Lodgepole, Nebraska
Finished the concrete paving on Koss #94 & 95 through Ensign and Montezuma, Kansas
Will complete 48 lane miles of cold-in-place recycled asphalt in Nebraska
Finished all 113,000 tons of hot mixed asphalt on Koss #995 in Adair County, Oklahoma
Began concrete paving on the 1st of 6 phases on the Muskogee Turnpike near Tulsa, Oklahoma
Moved the asphalt plant from Oklahoma to Kansas
Shot over 500,000 square yards of Silane treatment on Koss #97
Pottawattamie County
Iowa
Page 6
The Hard Roaders Outlook
2016 HARD ROADERS
THE STARS TELL THE STORY
Fall/Winter 2016
Page 7
Koss Construction Company
5830 SW Drury Lane
Topeka, Kansas 66604-2262
Phone: 785.228.2928
Fax: 785.228.2927
[email protected]
Hard Roaders
Since 1912
Welcome to the Koss Family!
Jessica Gonzales joined our Quality Control Team in August as a Quality Control Technician.
Having worked with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), Jessica brings experience to our asphalt operations having previously worked inspecting projects for KDOT. She is
currently assigned to quality control for Koss Project 101 near Columbus, KS.
Jake Grace joined our Project Management Team early in October. Jake has a strong background in construction; most recently as a project coordinator on a complex project in Arkansas. As a Koss Project Manager he will work closely with our office and field staff to ensure our
contracts are delivered as ordered.
Tyler Haines joined Koss Construction in September as a Field Technician. Tyler was previously
employed by Kansas Department of Transportation as a Project Inspector and we are sure this
experience will be of benefit to him and the company. His initial assignment is with our crews on
the Muskogee Oklahoma Turnpike project.
Fall/Winter 2016
Page 8