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More than $1.5 million in federal stimulus money will be spent to polish the surface of Interstate-80 west of North Platte. That "stimulus" project was recently added to list of federally funded road projects in the area, Gov. Dave Heineman said. A major overpass is being built on the south edge of Thedford at the junction of Nebraska Highway 2 and U.S. 83. And, the I-80 overpass at Maxwell is getting a new deck. Both projects are paid with federal stimulus dollars. In the latest stimulus project, I-80 will be patched, sealed and finished with a diamond grinder from North Platte west six miles. Iowa Erosion Control, Inc. is the contractor for the $1.7 million project. Work will start this fall, Thayer said. That $1.7 million was part of a $23 million package of road projects in Nebraska that Gov. Dave Heineman announced July 10. In other, non-stimulus road projects, renovation of U.S. Highway 83 on the south side of North Platte is on schedule, but the road will not open until late fall, possibly as late as mid-November, Nebraska Department of Roads engineer Gary Thayer said. The 1.3 miles of four-lane U.S. 83 -- the main south road in and out of town -- is being replaced two lanes at a time. A brief look at road projects in the area: * I-80 from Sutherland west 6.5 miles – joint sealing to keep out water and rocks. Work to begin soon and last about two weeks. * From the Lincoln County line north past Wellfleet (3.5 miles of U.S. Highway 83) -- new asphalt overlay. Western Engineering of North Platte is the contractor. The project began recently and is scheduled to finish in 35 working days. * Maxwell I-80 overpass, new deck and paving (stimulus project). The project is underway and should finish by late summer. Traffic over the overpass limited to one lane. * New Thedford overpass (stimulus project) over railroad tracks and Nebraska Highway 2 -- ahead of schedule. Girders in place for new bridge over Loup River. Pilings and pier are constructed for new overpass. Related grading work coming along nicely, Thayer said. Contractor wants to finish work before winter. Ames Construction is the contractor. Ames operates in a dozen Midwest states, including Colorado, with an office in Aurora. * Nebraska Highway 26 south of Lake McConaughy - new surface for 8.6 miles. This is the first of three segments of the project, which will cover 27 miles when complete. Paulson Construction of Cozad is the contractor. * Cozad I-80 overpass, complete replacement of deck, widening, new rails. Work well underway; overpass traffic restricted to one lane. Late fall completion. * Darr I-80 overpass, pavement repair, deck repair and overlay, new rails. Late summer completion.
Next year: Highway 30 overhaul Looking longer range, construction contractors meet at 1 p.m. July 31 at NDOR headquarters in North Platte to discuss rebuilding U.S. Highway 30 from Paxton to the west village limit of Sutherland. Work on U.S. 30 would begin in March. “There are a lot of issues that will need to be resolved for us to put the project out there for letting,” Thayer said, “such as maintaining traffic and getting the final product we want.” If the project goes forward, U.S. 30 would be closed to through traffic but open to local traffic during construction, Thayer said.
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