Lindsay-Genoa highway to get asphalt

COLUMBUS -- The Platte County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution committing $2.1 million to resurface 15.5 miles of asphalt highway between Lindsay and Genoa.

The cost of the project to the county is 50 percent of the total $4.23 million estimated cost to complete the work. The balance remaining on the project will be paid by the Federal Highway Administration.

The county entered into the agreement with the federal agency in May of 1993.

Liss said the original estimated cost of the project was about $1 million. He said it’s not uncommon for this type of Surface Transportation Program (Enhancement Project) to take 10 years or more to come to fruition.

Liss explained that in his opinion, the county’s original agreement to pay 50 percent of the project actually helped in getting the money now. Final approval was granted last week.

“The State of Nebraska gets $15 million in STPE money each year and the larger metro areas and counties get most of that,” Liss said. “When all the dust settles there’s usually about $6 million that gets divided up for all the projects across the rest of the state.

“In my opinion Platte County has gotten more than its fair share in recent years. Just over two years ago the county received in excess of $2 million for the Monastery Road project. To come back in just over two years with this money is frankly remarkable,” he said.

Liss said maintenance on the stretch of highway between Lindsay and Genoa had required an annual outlay of about $100,000 per year for the past seven years or more. He said at that time he began scheduling work each year to work on three or four miles per year at a cost of $35,000 per mile.

Supervisor Tom Martens asked Liss when construction might begin on the project. He also voiced his concern that other projects would have to take a “back burner” to this project, because the money was already committed years ago.

“At this time it’s my intention to put this on the One Year plan,” Liss said. I would think construction on this could begin in the spring.”

Martens said he would vote in favor of the resolution, but he had mixed feelings about it because other important projects would likely have to be postponed.

Liss estimated the project would take about two months depending on the weather. He said he anticipates using a pilot car to ensure safe traffic control during the project and the project would also include shoulder work and pavement marking.

“There is one thing that’s certain and that is the cost of construction is probably not going to go down,” Liss said. “It is a lot of money, but once this is done it will be a huge monkey off our back.”