A Topeka bridge will soon get some much needed repairs

(WIBW)
Published: Feb. 6, 2019 at 5:01 PM CST
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Work to replace the bridge on SW 37th St., just west of Indian Hills gets underway February 18th. Crews expect it to remain closed for three months.

“Every other year we do a bridge inspection and this bridge has come up as a priority so we got the money. We’re programming it for replacement,” Director of Shawnee County Public Works Curt Niehaus said.

The bridge was built in 1974 and Niehaus said it is now structurally deficient. Several holes in the steel beam webs underneath the bridge and road can be seen.

“We’re going to replace an existing steel beam bridge with a casting place concrete box structure,” he explained.

A new reinforced concrete box will allow for a safe clear zone, and replace the guard rail with a safer option.

“It’s a hazard that the public can hit, so we’re hoping that the hub guard on the replacement structure will be outside the clear zone and thus will not require a guard rail of any kind,” Niehaus said.

The project is expected to last until May 24th.

“I mean it’s not just a bridge replacement you know. When you replace a bridge structure you gotta do some approach work. There’s some earth work involved, so I don’t think it’s an unreasonable amount of time for a project of that type,” Niehaus said. “And who says that the contract won’t finish early?”

He said it should be too much of an inconvenience for the drivers.

“Most people that use the Southwest 37th are familiar with the area, and it should be no problem for them to find an alternate route,” Niehaus added.

The project budget is $533,000 and the contractor is Brayn-Ohlmeier Construction Co. Inc. from Paola, Kansas.