The Kansas Department of Transportation will start a project in southeast Kansas next week to help give drivers a smoother ride.

KDOT expects to start a mudjacking project that includes various locations in Allen, Bourbon, Coffey, Franklin, Greenwood, Labette, Miami, Neosho, Osage and Wilson counties. Mudjacking improves road-to-bridge transitions by using polyurethane foam to raise and level concrete bridge approach slabs and highway and shoulder panels. Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the work zones and drivers can expect brief delays. KDOT awarded the $135,000 construction contract to Nortex Concrete Lift & Stabilization Inc., Fort Worth, Texas. Weather permitting, the work should be completed by July.