The Superior Express -

If you enjoy the challenges of dealing with highway construction, Superior will be the place to be in the coming months, The Nebraska Department of Transportation has projects scheduled for this construction season starting in Superior and going north, south and east. They have nothing to the west but likely that is because the state doesn’t have a highway that runs directly west out of Superior. If there was, they might have scheduled something to do on it. The state spokesman didn’t say why there are so many projects here this year but we can conclude when the contractors are in the area the price is better if they have more work to do.

The current plan is to keep the three routes open with the assistance of traffic lights and flaggers while the construction is underway.

From Hartley Street to the bridge just east of the South Central Veterinary Clinic the highway will be widened to provide turning lanes to assist both east and west bound motorists wanting turn north into the Kottmeyer Business Park.

State and federal project funds will be supplemented with city funds to provide improved street lighting in that area.

The project requires the relocation of the water line serving the Village of Hardy.

The project ends short of the entrance into Aurora Cooperative’s Superior East Elevator, but Eric Cline, the state department’s construction engineer for this district, said the state has been in discussion with the cooperative about the truck traffic entering the elevator and the need for turning lanes. Before that project is undertaken, the elevator company will need to agree to provide cost assistance.

The East Third Street project will utilize flaggers during the construction phase.

Starting at Seventh and Bloom there will be sidewalk work in selected areas along Idaho Street to the north edge of Superior. Cline acknowledged the city had done some sidewalk work in the area and said this project will try not to duplicate any of the city’s work. Of particular interest, will be the intersections at Eighth, Tenth and Fifteenth streets. Idaho is slated to be milled and receive asphalt resurfacing to the south junction with Highway 136.

From Superior south to the stateline the road will be milled and a couple of inches or so of new asphalt applied, the bridges are also slated to be repaired.

While the bridges are undergoing repair, they will be reduced to one lane and controlled by signal lights. For the southern two bridges, the decking will be repaired and a membrane applied to the present bridge deck. The membrane will then be covered with asphalt. Guard rails will be repaired as needed.

The river bridge will receive more extensive repair including abutment repair, repair to the columns and piers and bearing work.

The bridge work is expected to take about two months to complete.

Werner Construction has the general contract. While bridge work is expected to begin in the next few days, the asphalt work will come later.

The major work within the city will probably come after Aug. 1.

The state has agreed to stop work midday Friday for the Memorial Day Weekend and not resume until the Tuesday following Memorial Day. An attempt will be made to minimize harvest truck delays and hopefully the work will be completed before fall harvest begins.