HUTCHINSON, Kan. – John Wiens, Hutchinson-based Engineering Technician Senior, has reached 40-years of service to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

For about the last 30 years, he has taken care of highway construction plans, records and computer-aided drafting. Wiens, a pilot, also inspects 32 airports in District Five, and has been a longtime local coordinator for KDOT’s State Fair booth.

Wiens joined KDOT in 1979, working for the Hutchinson Construction Office inspecting highways and bridges.

“It must be a pretty good place to work, for a person to hang in 40 years,” Wiens said. “It just doesn’t seem like I’ve been here that long. Time just kind of gets by you.”

His supervisor, Bryan Hamel, said, “John does an excellent job of working with district and area employees as well as customers outside of the department. His knowledge and experience are vital to ensuring that the plans and files are kept up and stored properly. John is an avid aircraft enthusiast who is efficient and detailed when performing airport inspections for District Five.”

Wiens lives in Hutchinson with his wife, Michele. He is the son to late William and Koloma Wiens. He has a sister, Sue Woods, of Liberty, Mo., and two brothers, Bob Wiens, of Hutchinson, and Bill Wiens of Bruchsal, Germany.