Hwy. 61 project nearing completion

Work on the 11-mile paving project on Hwy. 61 south moved into the final stages this week. 

Roads Dept. Project Manager Jodie Smith of McCook said only a few items need to be completed to wind the project up. 

Werner Construction, the general contractor for the project, finished paving during the final week of September. 

She said they will be back to mill down a few uneven seams in the paving. 

Normally this wouldn’t be needed but she said the asphalt batch plant went off-line for a few days on separate occasions. 

As a result, some of the joints between the asphalt lifts weren’t quite even, creating a bump in the pavement. 

Werner finished up shoulder grading last week and a subcontractor has already completed grass seeding on the shoulders. 

They blew on straw for cover on the shoulders and incorporated it to keep it from blowing off. 

With seeding complete, permanent reflector posts can be installed on the two curves on the project. 

Rumble bars will be milled into the outside edges of the new pavement. That work will be completed this week. 

Once that is completed, the final painting with reflective-based paint will wrap up the project. 

PROJECT KICKED OFF IN JULY 

The $4.2 million project kicked off in mid-July by milling off two inches of the existing pavement. The 11-mile project began at the junction of Hwy. 23-61 three miles east of Grant, south to the Perkins/Chase County line. 

Each lane was widened two feet with eight inches of asphalt versus five inches on the existing surface. 

Maintenance paving work was also completed in August on seven miles of Hwy. 23 near Madrid. 

Next year, paving on Highway 23 from Brandon east to the Hwy. 23/61 junction east of Grant is slated for construction. Estimated cost on the 13.3 mile project is $5.6 million.