The Nebraska Department of Roads is gearing up for what Project Manager Scott Griepenstroh called "the big dance without music."
It's the widening of Highway 30, better known as Second Street, through central Grand Island.
Nearly 400 construction signs will be placed in the next few weeks for the March 17 project start.
The complex project involves rerouting the highway's more than 18,000 daily vehicles for at least nine months.
Nearly a mile of the asphalt highway will be replaced with concrete and widened from four lanes to five. The project also will require substantial gas line, water line and storm sewer line work.
"An entire city will be affected by this construction," Griepenstroh said. "I have one word patience."
The Conoco Cafe at 2109 W. Second St. was demolished this week to make way for the project. Temporary construction signs and barricades will go up in the next few weeks.
Traffic signals at Second and Broadwell and also at Third and Broadwell will also undergo modifications in the coming weeks to prepare for different cycles during construction. A portion of the median on Broadwell Avenue will be removed between Second and Third for coming traffic changes.
"Third Street might have a continuous green light when a train is present, but that could be changed later to have the signals all go to flashing red like they do now," Griepenstroh said.
Access to all businesses along Second Street will remain open throughout construction, he said. But motorists may need to take alternate routes.
"Get used to using First Street," Griepenstroh said.
Project Q&A
Q: Who is doing the work?
A: The Nebraska Department of Roads is responsible. It has hired Paulsen Inc. of Cozad as the prime contractor. Subcontractors include Hooker Brothers Construction for grading, Midlands Contracting for storm sewer and water main work and Mid Plains Power for lights and signal work.
Q: What work is being done?
A: The asphalt roadway is being removed to subgrade. New dirt will be brought in and fly ash added to stabilize the roadbed. A new 10-inch-thick, 64-foot-wide, five-lane concrete road will be constructed. It will include two lanes for eastbound traffic, two for westbound traffic and a 12-foot-wide center turn lane. A raised median will be installed on Second Street for a half-block on either side of Broadwell Avenue. A northbound turning lane will be added to Second Street at Broadwell near Super Saver. The city's 6-inch water main on the north side of Second Street will be replaced with a 10-inch main on the south side. All new water services will be installed for all residences and businesses. A new storm sewer system with 74 curb inlets will be added to better drain water from Second Street into a new water detention cell the city is constructing at the former Wasmer School site at Division and Broadwell. Improved street lighting and a new traffic signal at Second and Broadwell will be installed. The current 4-foot-wide sidewalk will be upgraded to 5 feet wide.
Q: How much does the project cost?
A: The construction cost is $4.5 million. The right-of-way acquisition cost was $880,895 for 44 tracts of land.
Q: When will the project begin?
A: It will begin March 17. Paulsen Inc. plans to close the south half of West Second Street to begin removing pavement. The south-half construction is expected to be complete by the end of July. Construction on the north half north of Second Street is set to begin in August.
Q: When will the project end?
A: The project should be substantially complete by the end of November. Five-foot-wide sidewalks and landscaping will be completed in 2009. Some driveways also may be completed in 2009.
Q: What rerouting is planned for March 17 through July?
A: During the first phase of construction, while the south half of Second Street is reconstructed, eastbound Second Street traffic will be reduced to one lane on the north side of Second Street. Westbound traffic will also be reduced to one lane that is rerouted to Third Street from Greenwich Street near BG&S Transmissions all the way to Grant Street by the Highway 30 overpass. During this rebuilding of the south half of Second, nearly every driveway and intersection on the south side of Second Street will be closed. Access to south-side Second Street businesses should be made from First Street or from side streets. Three side streets will remain open most of the time to through traffic. Those side streets are Clay Street by the Conoco Gas Station, Broadwell Avenue and Adams Street by McDonald's and Casey's. The McDonald's drive-through exit will be temporarily rerouted to Adams Street during this phase. Monroe Street, which is currently closed, will be opened just north of First Street to provide access to Walgreens.
Q: What rerouting is planned for August through November?
A: During the second phase of construction, while the north half of Second Street is reconstructed, eastbound Second Street traffic will be reduced to one lane on the newly built lanes on the south side of Second Street. Westbound traffic will also be reduced to one lane that is rerouted to Third Street from Greenwich Street near BG&S Transmissions all the way to Grant Street by the Highway 30 overpass. During this rebuilding of the north half of Second Street, nearly every driveway and intersection on the north side of Second Street will be closed. Access to north-side Second Street businesses should be made from Third Street or from side streets. Three side streets will remain open most of the time to through traffic. Those are Clay Street by the Upper Deck and Fazoli's, Broadwell Avenue and Jefferson Street by the Holiday gas station and Burger King. The Burger King drive-through exit will be temporarily rerouted to Jefferson Street during this phase.
Q: Why is the entire stretch of Second Street being rerouted all nine months?
A: This project is so complex that Department of Roads officials have deemed it unsafe to be switching traffic back and forth from the south side to the north-side lanes of Second Street in the construction zone. Besides the removal of pavement and new construction, water line and storm sewer work will be done throughout the construction zone. Gas lines are also having to be lowered to accommodate the new storm sewer.
Q: What will the speed limit be?
A: The current 35 mph speed limit will be reduced to 30 mph through the construction zone.
Q: Will parking be allowed along Third Street while highway traffic is rerouted there?
A: No.
Q: How many trees will be lost to the project?
A: Virtually all of the trees along Second Street will be removed. Grass and brick pavers are planned for replacement in what will be, in most places, a 4-foot-wide terrace area. A business improvement district is being discussed with Second Street business owners. That district may decide to include more extensive landscaping. However, large trees will be disallowed due to traffic safety.
Q: What will happen with Third Street traffic when a train comes and the traffic signal at Third and Broadwell flashes red?
A: Traffic signal modifications are being completed, and a continuous green may be activated when a train is present. Regulatory signs will be installed to inform motorists not to block traffic at the Third and Broadwell intersection. Extra enforcement may be called for to ensure that Third Street is not blocked when a train is present.
Q: How close will buildings be after the widening?
A: Less than 8 feet in some locations, such as at the Almquist Maltzahn Galloway and Luth accounting firm at 1203 W. Second St. and at the Assemblies of God District Headquarters at 1503 W. Second St.
Q: Where can I get more information?
A: Call Project Manager Scott Griepenstroh at 385-6888, extension 215; attend an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. March 13 at the Department of Roads District 4 office, 211 N. Tilden; or check out the Nebraska Department of Roads Web site at www.nebraskatransportation.org/projects/us30-gi/index.htm. Or for information about the Second Street businesses impacted by access changes, check out the Web site for the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce at www.gichamber.com/
Project by the numbers
Length of project: 0.85 of a mile
Impacted Second Street businesses: 36
Impacted Second Street homes: 9
New curb inlets to drain water from Second Street: 74
Temporary construction signs: 399
Tall construction cones: 406
Reflectorized barrels: 66
Barricades: 109
Average daily Second Street traffic: 18,415
Average daily Broadwell traffic (Second to Third): 9,903
Reportable accidents in project area from January 2004 to December 2006: 109
Rear-end accidents from January 2004 to December 2006: 45
Broadside accidents from January 2004 to December 2006: 33
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