Work is ending soon to replace the Interstate 35 bridge over Lincoln Street. Exactly when, though, is to be determined.
Kansas Department of Transportation engineer Steve Baalman says recent rainfall has put the schedule, pardon the pun, up in the air.
Baalman says repeated rainfall, including the 1.5-4.5 inches from the Labor Day weekend and now four separate rainfall events since then, have delayed the end of the project.
Construction got started early last year, but Baalman says engineering work took place well before that. And the overall conversation started well before the engineering work.
Traffic had been head-to-head for the vast majority of the project, but recently KDOT crews were able to reset the traffic flow so drivers could use the outside lanes in both directions as the project comes to an end over the next few weeks.
The project replaces the bridge, but it also let KDOT and the city of Emporia build a hike-and-bike path under the new bridge to connect Becker Addition residents north of the Interstate to Jones Park south of the work zone.
