Build A Better Mousetrap

This friendly, competitive challenge rewards the top three winners based on cost and savings, benefits to the community and the environment, transferability, ingenuity, and effectiveness. All candidates' entries will be sent to the national competition which disseminates the ideas in an electronic booklet to all LTAP/TTAP Centers.
Interested in participating? Submit your idea by May 31, 2021 for a chance to win!
MORE INFORMATION
For questions about the competition or for more information, contact Hemin Mohammed at hemin@ku.edu or 785-864-6631.
Visit the FHWA website for more information about the national competition!
2020 WINNERS
Saline County Road and Bridge recognized the need for an effective way to clean out a low concrete box culvert that would be relatively inexpensive while utilizing equipment they already owned.
THE SOLUTION:
"We had an idea for a skid loader attachment that could be hauled to the project in stacked sections and assembled at the worksite on the same trailer used to haul the skid steer loader. We used a local manufacturing company to build the attachment and it cost about $4,000. The ability to clean culverts allows for the free passage of runoff and drainage waters. This saves damages to the roadway and personal property."
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THE PROBLEM:
Traffic signs like Stop and/or Yield signs get stolen or knocked down often, and must be put back up as soon as the notification is received. The individual responsible for setting it back up may not be able to find the existing hole and/or remove the stub, and cannot dig new holes without one call locates.
"A portable stop or yield sign can be easily transported to the site by one person. Most times, the items needed are not known, and it takes precious time to gather everything you might need. There is no need to gather supplies when responding with the portable sign. The legs adjust to level the sign in steep or uneven ditches, and an extension is used to reach an appropriate height in deep ditches. A few long stakes can tie it to the ground in high winds. We used mostly scrap posts and estimated the cost to be $50 per unit, which includes:
- Labor: 1 hour per unit
- Equipment: Welder, wrenches, drill
- Materials: Square posts, 4 pins, 1 sign, 3 metal stakes, 2 U-bolts, 4 washers

