PWF Road Project May Soon Go Out For Bids

By Gordon HopkinsBidding on the long-delayed repairs of the PWF (Pawnee City, Wymore, Fairbury) Road may go out for bid sooner than anticipated. Jefferson County Commissioner Mark Schoenrock met with representatives of the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) on Thursday, June 26, and a follow-up meeting the next day.Schoenrock said, “And the result of that meeting, we got the projected bid date moved up four months from December to August of 2026 and hopefully further improvements in that schedule will come.Schoenrock noted another development that came from the meetings, “We were also successful in formally getting the bridge broken out, the bridge between Highway 103 and the Gage County line. That bridge now is a separate project.” Schoenrock said, “So we’re going to be able to go out for bids on the bridge this summer. So, I’m sure we’ll start construction on that this year.” The bridge work will be an inconvenience for some as the bridge will have to be closed down entirely during construction, rather than closing one lane at a time.“People won’t be able to pass on there,” said Schoenrock. “I’ve already talked to most of the people that live out there. They know it’s going to be a hard stop when it’s coming.”News of the advance of the PWF and bridge projects was welcomed by commissioners, who have been frustrated by the delays and red tape that often comes with accepting federal money. Jefferson County will be receiving $8.5 million towards that total cost from federal sources, which comes with a number of requirements, including an environmental study. Such a study was completed in 2016 for the entire 14-mile length of road NDOT insisted on a new study, which is being conducted by Olssen and Associates.T he total estimated cost for the PWF project is $12.8 million. The rest will likely be paid for by issuing a bond, which the county has authority to do without a public vote.

Several Tight Finishes For Area Squads

City Council Change Pool Hours In Hopes Of Retaining Lifeguards

Related Articles

High Winds Fuel Multiple Wild Fires in SE Nebraska

Sen. Ricketts Makes the Case for War

City Offices Closed During Move

A Broken Wire Over Railroad Tracks Leaves City in the Dark