Route 442 in Eastern Douglas County to Close for Bridge Replacement

01/30/2007
The Douglas County Public Works Department announces that Route 442 between the interchange at K-10 highway and Evening Star Road in Johnson County will soon be closed for a bridge reconstruction project. It is currently anticipated the road closure will commence during the week of Monday, February 12th, and the road will remain closed through late-summer 2007. The bridge to be replaced is located approximately 0.3 miles west of the Johnson County line, and carries Route 442 (old K-10 highway) over Captain Creek. A signed detour will be established. The detour follows K-10 highway between the Route 442 interchange and the Evening Star Road interchange, a distance of approximately two miles. Local access to properties within the project limits will be maintained throughout the duration of the project, however properties east of the bridge must be accessed from the east via the Evening Star Road interchange. The purpose of the project is to replace the structurally deficient bridge. The bridge was reconstructed in the 1930's as part of K-10 highway. It is in poor condition, and is currently posted for a 10-ton load limit. The existing bridge is 150 feet long with a 24-foot roadway width. The new bridge will be 160 feet long with a 36-foot roadway width (two 12-foot wide driving lanes with two 6-foot wide shoulders). Construction is anticipated to be substantially complete by September 2007, weather permitting. The construction contract allows the contractor 125 working days, or about 6-1/2 months (with good weather) to complete the project. This construction project is 80% funded by federal transportation funds with Douglas County funding the remaining 20% of construction costs. Douglas County is funding 100% of design engineering costs and utility relocation costs. The neighboring property owners donated additional road right-of-way required for the project. The federal transportation funds are administered through KDOT. Midwest Construction Co., Inc. of Holton, Kansas was awarded the construction contract by KDOT with a bid of $860,291.

Related Links:
Douglas County Website - http://www.douglas-county.com

Media Contact:
Keith Browning, Public Works Director
Public Works Department
785-832-5293
browning@douglas-county.com