Lecompton Bridge Reopened To Traffic
08/09/2007
The Douglas County Public Works Department announces that construction work on the bridge carrying Route 1029 over the Kansas River at Lecompton is substantially complete, and the bridge was reopened to traffic at 3:00pm, Friday, August 10th. The bridge had been closed since March 12, 2007 for deck replacement and partial replacement of the steel superstructure. The bridge connects the cities of Lecompton and Perry situated on the south and north sides of the Kansas River, respectively. Reopening the bridge alleviates an approximately 30-mile detour for travel between the two cities since the bridge's closure. The bridge is also an important link to Perry Lake from the Lecompton interchange on the Kansas Turnpike just west of Lawrence. Construction work is substantially complete, but some work items remain. Traffic will be allowed on the bridge through construction of the remaining items. Work items remaining include clean up work, seeding, and other miscellaneous items. The project entailed removing and replacing the concrete bridge deck that was in poor condition. The structural steel in the southernmost three approach spans was also replaced. As part of the structural steel work, a fracture-critical pin-and-hanger expansion joint was replaced with a more structurally reliable joint. Also, headed stud anchors were welded to the tops of existing steel girders in the main river spans and the new steel beams in the approach spans. This makes the concrete deck work compositely with the steel superstructure, thereby strengthening the bridge. Douglas County awarded a construction contract in the amount of $2,518,322.32 to A. M. Cohron & Son, Inc. for the bridge rehabilitation project. Douglas County and Jefferson County are sharing the project cost 89%/11%, respectively.
Related Links:
Douglas County Public Works Dept. - http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/pw/pw_home.aspx
Lecompton Bridge Project webpage - http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/pw/pw_projects_lecomptonbridge.aspx
Lecompton Bridge Project map (PDF format) - http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/pw/docs/pdf/pw_projects_lecomptonbridgelocationmap.pdf
Media Contact:
Keith Browning, Public Works Director
Public Works Department
785-832-5293
browning@douglas-county.com