More orange cones are getting removed around parts of Emporia, and not just because we’re getting deeper into fall.
Kansas Turnpike Authority Engineer Shannon Moore is reporting significant repairs to the Turnpike’s bridge over US Highway 50 have recently completed — meaning traffic on both US-50 and the Turnpike is back to normal flow in both directions. Structural work was completed in late August and early September, with smaller clean-up projects taking place for most of this month.
The bridge was heavily damaged in mid-April after an over-height load sliced through at least two I-beams supporting the bridge and caused other nearby damage. US-50 traffic was head-to-head since mid-April to account for repairs and movement of equipment. Several construction companies and contractors were involved in the repairs, which were initially estimated at around $2.1 million.
The end of repairs on the Turnpike bridge over US-50 follows the end of the nearly-20-month Interstate 35 bridge replacement project over Lincoln Street last week.
Meanwhile and separately, highway patching and resurfacing continues on the Turnpike between the Emporia service exit at mile marker 132, five miles northeast of the Emporia gate, and the Admire exit at mile marker 147. This is part of a project that involves patching this fall and surfacing next year, with the project possibly done next fall. Pearson Construction of Wichita is in charge of this nearly $4.4 million improvement project.
