Weather permitting, culvert work will begin February 14 with full I-80 construction activities beginning April 1, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
IHC Scott of Centennial, Colorado has the $40,800,000 contract. Work includes full reconstruction of the existing eastbound and westbound lanes, bridge widening, culvert extensions, rest area reconstruction, exit ramp reconstruction and guardrail replacement. Eastbound lanes will be reconstructed in 2022 and westbound lanes will be reconstructed in 2023. Traffic will be maintained in a head-to-head configuration during both construction seasons but will be returned to normal 4-lane operation for winter.
The Brownson Interchange will be closed eastbound during 2022 construction and a detour will be setup to get eastbound traffic to L-17C by exiting I-80 eastbound at Potter Interchange 38 and following the signs to US-30, then east on US-30 to L-17C. The westbound on and off ramps will remain open for westbound traffic to exit to L-17C. During construction, County Road 99 will be closed and detoured to allow for the bridge work to be performed. County Road 99 will be open to normal two-way traffic from the third Sunday in July to the second Sunday in August. The eastbound rest area will be closed during the construction to allow for the removal of the rest area and the reconstruction of a new parking lot and allow for grading for the new rest area to be built under a separate project. Anticipated completion is September 2024.
Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near I-80 construction work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.
