Work begins later this month to replace the Interstate 35 bridge over Lincoln Street, although the main construction period won’t begin until April.
The city says the Kansas Department of Transportation’s contractor, King Construction and Subsidiaries out of Hesston, will start work the week of Feb. 26. However, Lincoln Street isn’t set to be closed to traffic until the first week of April. Once the bridge closes, it likely won’t reopen until fall 2025 when the project is finished.
Besides the new overall span, City Engineer Jim Ubert has said the Lincoln Street bridge will look similar to the I-35 bridge over Burlingame Road, although it will be for a two-lane street instead of a four-lane street. There will be lanes at street level for vehicles, walking and cycling. Ubert says this will also provide better visibility for drivers.
King Construction submitted a bid of over $4.3 million for the project.
This also overlaps the 24th and Prairie waterline replacement project, which starts later in the year and could last 15-18 months as well. Ubert expects several detours for drivers in northwest Emporia as a result of both projects.
