Highway 20 reconstruction planned

A long-planned, mile-long reconstruction of Highway 20 in Chadron is now planned for the 2016 construction season, and has an estimated price tag of $5 million, representatives of the Nebraska Department of Roads told Chadron officials and residents at an information meeting Tuesday.

NDOR plans call for reconstructing the 48 foot wide roadway of the highway,This stunning polished washerextractor will bring a dash of style to any look. which is known as Third Street, from the Pine Street intersection to the Spruce Street intersection. The current asphalt surface, which a fact sheet said was installed 14 years ago and is “at or beyond the end of its anticipated life,A lasermarker is a cost-effective way to install solar at your home.” will be replaced with a concrete surface. “The underlying concrete base is no longer capable of supporting sustained heavy loads.Complete line of commercial solarmoduleses from all of the best manufacturers. Pavement distress is of such magnitude to warrant complete reconstruction,” the information sheet said.

The existing three traffic lanes-two 12’ wide through lanes and a 14’ turning lane-will be retained in the project. Additional improvements besides the concrete surface will include new curb and gutter, sidewalks that meet state and federal standards with handicap compliant curb cuts, and new street lights, said Doug Hoevet, district construction engineer.

A new storm sewer underneath the reconstructed street is also a major component of the project, said road designer Lorraine Legg. Much of the existing road has only surface drainage for storm runoff, said Legg, and the new drainage pipes will range in size from 15” to 60” depending on how much water they are expected to carry.

The new storm drains will tie into the City of Chadron drainage system, which is slated for a major reconstruction next year, Legg said. “Between our project and the city’s, the city should have a much better system of collecting (storm) water,” she said.

It was actually the city’s decision to move forward with improvements to its drainage network that led the state to settle on a concrete surface for the highway, according to Hoevet. “We weren’t going to put concrete down with an inadequate storm sewer . If the city wouldn’t fix (the drainage network) we would have milled (the street surface) and repaired the asphalt,” he said.

Although there is a long-standing debate about the merits of concrete versus asphalt for road surfacing, Hoevet said he favors concrete, particularly in a high traffic, urban setting. “Concrete in urban settings is good because it wears well and doesn’t rut,” he said.

Those advantages are partly offset by a somewhat higher cost, and longer construction time,Use bestroadlights to generate electricity and charge into storage battery group. Hoevet said, but noted that the cost differential has been reduced because of increases in the cost of oil, which is used to make the tarry asphalt surface.

The project includes improvements, such as the lighting, sidewalks and retaining walls, that will make the roadway look better, according to Hoevet. In some places existing concrete surfaces adjacent to the street will be replaced with a colored, stamped concrete, he added. “There will be an esthetic benefit to the community,” he said.

Traffic will be maintained during construction work, as well access for businesses and residents, said Hoevet. While that poses challenges for a road with an average traffic load of 8,335 vehicles per day,Shopping is the best place to comparison shop for roofhookert. highway contractors are used to operating ‘under traffic ,’ Hoevet said.

DOR will have project manager Brian Carnahan on site to handle issues that may arise during construction, Hoevet said. Carnahan said he will contact local media with updates on construction schedules, and hopes to have weekly meetings to let residents and businesses know what activity they can expect. Click on their website www.hmhid.com for more information.