I-80 construction stays on track, despite rainfall

Road construction on Interstate 80 through Sidney is progressing despite the soggy weather.

Wayne Rhamy, Nebraska Department of Roads project manager in Gering, said workers are doing the best they can with all the recent rain.

"We could probably be a little further away, but it's looking good," he said.

Work began this spring on eastbound lanes, from mile markers 51-69. Once that's completed, the multi-year project will move onto the westbound lanes, from mile markers 62-90.

The eastbound lane work is scheduled to be completed this year, and westbound lane construction will commence next year.

Rhamy said existing concrete is being removed and replaced and lanes and being widened.

"It will change from 10 feet to 12 feet on the outside shoulder and from three feet to four feet on the inside shoulder," he said.

Two overpasses are also being re-decked and widened.

Currently, construction crews are working on the overpasses and shoulder subgrade, Rhamy said.

"That way we can start removing the existing concrete," he added.

While not initially planned for, last month, a portion of I-80 west of Sidney was temporarily closed and traffic detoured along U.S. Highway 30.

"That was because we had some deterioration on the shoulder, and it was impossible to keep it patched with the moisture," he said.

The detour allowed crews to replace the shoulder.

"That was an emergency situation," he said. "Normally, we wouldn't detour traffic like that."

He said he didn't foresee any other I-80 closures.

While the eastbound lanes through Sidney are under construction, the westbound lanes have been reduced to head-to-head traffic.

Rhamy said the traffic patterns would be returned to normal in October while work pauses for the winter.

According to NDOR, 8,360 vehicles pass through Sidney I-80 interchanges each day. In 20 years, the department expects that number to increase to 10,650.

"The purpose of this project is to preserve this section of I-80, improve the reliability of the highway system and maintain the mobility of the travelling public," a NDOR project information document states. "The existing roadway has reached the end of its service life and does not meet minimum width requirements. The existing bridges exhibit deterioration, including the approach slabs and bridge decks."

Koss Construction, of Topeka, Kan., is leading the $34 million project. Funding is derived from state and federal sources.