Central Ave. work begins

By Becky Uehling

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

Work began last week on handicap accessible ramps at each intersection from 1st to 6th streets in Grant, under the direction of the State of Nebraska Department of Roads. According to Kirk Barnes, owner of Kirk Barnes Construction of Valentine who is handling the project, the ramps should be finished by the middle of next week. Barnes said most of the corners will be fairly simple to construct. However, the corner at 6th and Central, south of the museum, will be somewhat of a challenge, with three trees having to be removed. 

The City of Grant is one of three towns in District 7 that Kirk Barnes Construction has completed handicapped ramps for. They just finished ramps in 10 towns in District 5, which is in the Panhandle, Barnes said. 

The ramps are just the first phase of a major overhaul of Central Ave. in Grant that will continue this summer. Other work that is to come includes the removal of the downtown trees, replacement of gutter, curb, and sidewalk, the burying of the overhead electrical lines, new light poles, new benches and new trash receptacles. A start date for the project has not yet been set, Dunn said.