Portion of Route 438 closed to traffic

07/06/2009
Route 438 from Route 1029 (E 600 Road) to just west of the K-10 intersection has been closed to through traffic. A signed detour utilizing K-10 highway, US-40 highway and Route 1029 (E 600 Road) is provided. Access will be maintained to properties within the project limits. Construction activities for improvements to Route 438 (Farmers' Turnpike) from Route 1029 to the K-10 intersection commenced June 8. Variable message boards set at each end of the project for the previous 10 days notified the traveling public of the road's impending closure. 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 is being funded from Douglas County's Capital Improvement Program.

Related Links:
Douglas County Website - http://www.douglas-county.com
Road & Bridge Closings Map - http://www.douglas-county.com/depts/pw/op/docs/pdf/roadclosings_countywide.pdf

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