Underpass closure moved up

Starting next Tuesday, the underpass on 13th Ave. will be closed to vehicle traffic, according to public services director, John Hehnke.

The city had planned earlier this week to push back the underpass closure, but was forced to move up the construction again. Scheduling conflicts involving some utilities that must be relocated due to the pavement project on 13th and Illinois made this change necessary, Hehnke said in a press statement.

On Tuesday, August 6, traffic on Illinois Street will be shifted from the north to the south side of the street. Traffic will still run east and west on the new pavement on the south side, while the north side and the underpass are closed. Crews will work to remove and replace the concrete and install new traffic signal loops while the street is closed.

All traffic traveling from the north side of Sidney to south side will have to detour, relying on Greenwood Road to East Elm Street.

"Temporary stop signs will be placed at the BNSF Railroad underpass during this detour to eliminate the possibility of head to head traffic in this narrow section of the roadway," Hehnke said in the press release.

Beginning Tuesday, the city of Sidney will be operating three public transportation buses to accommodate those on the north side who depend on this service, according to city manager Gary Person. The additional bus running next week will be available exclusively to the north side, because north side residents must use alternative routes to connect with locations south of the railroad tracks.

Buses will continue their normally scheduled stops near Sioux Villa on the fixed Stagecoach bus route. These buses will continue to operate on the regular Monday through Saturday routine. Buses will also be on hand to take care of dial a ride requests.

The rest of the Stagecoach bus route will operate on its normal schedule next week, making its regular 11 stops on the south side.