Work on I-80 may affect planned county road projects

The Nebraska Department of Roads plans to widen several bridges on Interstate 80 which cross over roads in Cheyenne County during the next few years.

In 2013 the Nebraska Department of Roads began a 20 year program to rebuild Interstate 80, according to Craig Lind, Nebraska Department of Roads highway district engineer.

Last year the west bound lanes of Interstate 80 were replaced from Potter to Brownson while this year the east bound lanes for that section will be replaced.

“All the bridges have to be widened,” Lind said.

The state plans to widen and repair bridges crossing County Rd 20, Sidney Draw Creek, Old Post Rd, Link 17J and to repair the BNSF railroad bridge during the next two years.

“We will be spending a lot of time in Deuel County and Cheyenne County in the next few years,” Lind said at Monday’s Cheyenne County commissioner meeting.

Cheyenne County had previously planned to resurface County Rd 20 this year beneath one of the bridges planned for construction. There was some concern that the state’s work on the bridge planned for summer 2015 and 2016 might damage the new concrete pavement the county plans to pour.

“If you want to pour it, if the contractors damage it, we’ll just have to fix it,” Lind told the commissioners.

Commissioner Steve Olson asked if the contractor would be liable for damages.

“We’d just make the contractor fix it,” Lind said.

The east and west bound lanes over County Rd 20 will be replaced one year at a time. Ideally, this work wouldn’t interfere with interstate traffic and would include only minor flagging operations on the county road beneath.

Lind commented that the amount of work the state must complete in the next few years is voluminous, and is complicated by the restricted amount of days the state allows for contractors to finish the work, as well as by weather issues.

Tom Noel, county highway superintendent, wondered if the work could be completed without interfering with harvest and traffic to and from Dinklage Feed Yard, located west of the interstate on County Rd 20. Lind agreed that the work could be completed before Sept. 1 of each year.

Noel pointed out that the county might not be able to secure a contractor to complete paving work on County Road 20 until fall of this year.

“We’ve all got to work together,” said county Commissioner Ken McMillen. “We’ve got to protect our little neck of the woods. For us to put that concrete under there and make it a total disaster for you doesn’t make a lot of sense, but if you think you can work around it.”

Lind promised to send an agreement based on Monday’s discussion for Noel’s and the commissioners’ approval.