Department of Transportation Hosts Flood Recovery Update Meetings

The Nebraska Department of Transportation held the first of several flood recovery update meetings today.

The Department of Transportation has been putting in a lot of work in the last few months to recover from spring flooding. They’re now holding a series of open house meetings for the public to learn about flood recovery and ask questions.

In District 1, where Nebraska City is located, the largest project dealt with damage to Highway 15 south of Schuyler, including a bridge over the Platte River. That project is already complete.

Mark Traynowicz is the Nebraska State Bridge Engineer. He says the Highway 15 bridge was just one of 27 state highway bridges that were damaged by flooding.

“A typical flood, you know we may have one or two state highway bridges that could get damaged. We’ve got six bridges that are completely washed out, we’ve got seven other’s that have got major repairs, and then the rest have more minor repairs. I don’t think people realize it’s such a significant event as it is,” Traynowicz said.

Bridge solutions will include temporary bridges west of Niobrara and south of Spencer. Both temporary bridges are expected to be installed in August.

The Department of Transportation will hold additional flood recovery update meetings this week in Norfolk, O’Neill, and Niobrara.