Unexpected emergencies can unfold in seconds

During National Work Zone Awareness Week, the Kansas Department of Transportation and its safety partners are sharing personal stories each day to illustrate why safety is critical in work zones.

Wednesday safety blog:

Unexpected emergencies can unfold in seconds

I received the call no one in highway maintenance wants when they have crews making repairs in highway works zones. It starts with: "We've had an incident in our work zone on I-70."

Keith Hubler, KDOT Highway Maintenance Superintendent in Clay Center, said his mind raced. Was the crew OK? Was the public safe?

Unexpected emergencies can unfold in seconds. In this situation, the crew was working in the driving lane with a standard mobile setup. A motorist approaching the work zone began to behave erratically. The driver nearly struck the overpass guardrail, overcorrected, crossed back over the highway and off the shoulder, narrowly missing the trail vehicle.

Hubler's full work zone safety blog is at kansastransportation.blogspot.com and can be published provided you credit Keith Hubler/KDOT.

Above: Keith Hubler (center), KDOT Highway Maintenance Superintendent in Clay Center, is pictured with his wife and father.

Similar information will be sent daily on the upcoming work zone safety blogs. The include:

Thursday: Heather Jennings, KDOT Construction Manager in Syracuse.

Friday: Andrew Booth, Kansas Turnpike Authority Safety Coordinator in Wichita.

NOTE:

Work zone safety blogs for the 2026 series started Monday, April 20.