Route 438 improvements scheduled to commence

06/02/2009
Construction activities for improvements to Route 438 (Farmers' Turnpike) from Route 1029 to the K-10 intersection are scheduled to begin Monday, June 8. The contractor may begin some initial clearing prior to June 8 if weather allows. Route 438 will remain open to traffic through construction for the first approximately three weeks of construction. Douglas County currently anticipates Route 438 will be closed to through traffic on Monday, June 29. Variable message boards will be set at each end of the project to notify the traveling public at least 10 days in advance of the road's closure. A signed detour utilizing K-10 highway, US-40 highway and Route 1029 (E 600 Road) will be provided for through traffic. The project is scheduled to reopen Route 438 to traffic by November 21, 2009. The purpose of the project is to improve the safety for this section of roadway. The project is 2.26 miles long from the Route 1029 curve to the existing widened portion of Route 438 just west of the K-10 (SLT) intersection. The improvements include adding 8-feet wide paved shoulders to the road and flattening the frontslopes and backslopes of ditches. The western 75% of the project length will involve total road reconstruction. In the eastern 25% of the project, the existing road will be milled and overlaid, and shoulders and flatter roadside slopes will be constructed. The Board of County Commissioners awarded a construction contract to Hamm Construction, Inc. for this project. Hamm was the low bidder with a bid of $1,627,607. Construction will be funded from Douglas County's Capital Improvement Program.

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