Work to begin on I-80, Potter to Brownson

Weather permitting, construction work is scheduled to begin the week of April 1 on I-80 from the Kimball/Cheyenne County line, Reference Post 35+19, to the Brownson Interchange, Reference Post 48,according to the Nebraska Department of Roads.

The prime contractor for the $31.9 million project is Chester Bross Construction Co. of Hannibal, Missouri. Work will include removal of old pavement in the westbound lanes, construction of a new base with new 12-inch concrete pavement on the mainline and 10-inch concrete shoulders.

The ramps at the Potter Interchange, Reference Post 38, will be rebuilt, with access to Potter maintained by the use of temporary ramps. The project also involves the extension of existing pipe culverts and box culverts, along with the addition of new pipe culverts and the installation of new guardrail to meet the new safety requirements. Reconstruction of the approach and paving sections at each end of the bridges over Link Road L-17B will also be completed.

Traffic will be maintained during construction by using the eastbound lanes for head-to-head traffic through the project. This work is anticipated to be completed and the new westbound lanes open to normal traffic flow by November 9, 2013. In 2014, the eastbound lanes will be reconstructed in the same manner with the entire project scheduled for completion in 2015.

The NDOR project manager for this project is Jim Johnson of Gering. Motorists are reminded to follow construction signs and to drive cautiously through highway work zones.