More Improvements Coming

State and federal legislators, state representatives, county commissions and other local officials recently turned out in 27-degree weather to celebrate improvments to Route 65. The 73-mile project includes adding rumble stripes, shoulder upgrades, bridge repairs and more across Livingston, Carroll and Saline counties. All those in attendance remarkedof the smooth ride, safety improvements and economic development aspects this $20 million investment brings to the area. More improvements are coming to the corridor next year. A $6.7 million contract was recently awarded for the same upgrades to 32 miles in Mercer and Grundy counties. A second contract will bid soon for 20 miles in Grundy and Livingston counties.

Route 65 – Livingston/Carroll Counties

Resurface 29 miles from Rte. 36 to north of Carrollton.

(Job #: J2P0776C)

Aug. 31, 2009 - The contractor started removal of guardrail at existing bridges.

Aug. 28, 2009 - Paving to begin at Carrollton north on Rte. 65 to Chillicothe. Will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Traffic to be reduced to one lane.

Aug. 11, 2009 - This project has not yet started. The contractor has begun to mobilize equipment into the area and is planning on starting construction, weather permitting, on Aug. 17, 2009.

July 7, 2009 - The contractor has yet to mobilize onto the project to begin construction of the new asphaltic concrete pavement.

July 2, 2009 - This project is on schedule to start in mid-August as originally estimated. The project should be completed by November 1, 2009.

May 1, 2009 - The project began with rehabilitation to four bridges in Carroll County (over Little Wakenda, Shootman Creek, Tater Hill Creek and Mound Creek). The decks have been repaired and work to water proof the driving surface to minimize future deterioration will be done next week. Latter this summer the structures will have a new wearing surface installed to provide a smooth ride for the traveling public. The wearing surface will work in concert with the waterproofing. General construction to upgrade the shoulders and resurfacing is tentatively set to begin mid-August.

Contract awarded to Chester Bross Construction Company - Cost: $6.7 million

Route 65 – Carroll/Saline County

Resurface 30 miles from north of Carrollton to beginning of divided lanes at Marshall, excluding 3-miles at the Missouri River Bridge at Waverly.

(Job #: J2P0776B)

Aug. 31, 2009 - Asphalt is completed from Carrollton to Waverly. Currently placing surface leveling at Waverly.

Aug. 11, 2009 - This project is going very well. Currently the contractor is working on the shoulders within the city limits of Carrollton. By the middle of next week they should have all the shoulders from Carrollton to Waverly completed and should be doing clean-up work in the same location. Additionally, the paving train will be moving south of Waverly to begin mainline paving to Marshall. The project is on schedule to be completed by Nov. 1, 2009.

July 7, 2009 - The contractor has started to place base material on the mainline of Route 65 in Carroll Co. on the four lane section in Carrollton. The paving began June 29th and is progressing at a fairly rapid rate. The contractor is working five days a week, 12 hours a day. Overnight operations will occur within the City of Carrollton for the week of July 13 thru 17 in order to minimize the inconvenience to the traveling public.

July 2, 2009 - This project will tentatively start on June 24. The contractor has been able to complete some other projects ahead of schedule which is allowing an earlier start than originally anticipated. This date is weather dependent. The project should be completed by Mid to late October, 2009.

Contract awarded to APAC-Missouri, Inc. - Cost: $7.6 million

Route 65 - Saline County
Resurface 17 miles (7 miles southbound and 10 miles northbound) from south of Marshall to the Pettis County line. Includes ramps at the Rte. 65/I-70 interchange and a diamond-grinding treatment to smooth a 3 mile southbound concrete section.

(Job #: J2P0776)

Aug. 31, 2009 - The semi-final inspection is completed. We are now waiting on seed growth.

Aug. 11, 2009 - Contractor is conducting shoulder obliteration and seeding operations. The project should be completed this week unless there are corrective actions required. Tape on centerline tentatively scheduled for next week.

July 7, 2009 - Contractor cleaning up project site. Rumble strips and striping scheduled to take place this week.

July 2, 2009 - Contractor is working on constructing turn lanes at Jewel Avenue/Route UU intersection. Subcontractor is finishing diamond grinding work. Obliteration of excess paved shoulder will begin next week.

June 4, 2009 - All mainline resurfacing will be complete today, then APAC will finish the shoulder paving. Diamond grinding should begin on June 15 for the concrete section.

March 30, 2009 - Northbound traffic was shifted onto the southbound lanes at the Blackwater River Bridge, approximately one and one-half miles south of Route UU south of Marshall. Both northbound and southbound traffic have been reduced to one-lane, running head to head on the current existing southbound lanes. Plastic delineation devices have been placed between the lanes to assist with traffic control. The traffic shift is necessary to allow contractors to rehabilitate the bridge, which is expected to take approximately two months to complete.

Contract awarded to APAC-Missouri, Inc. - Cost: $6 million

Future Projects on Route 65

Route 65 – Grundy County
Resurface 20 miles from Rte. 6 to Rte. 190.
Project Begins Spring 2010 – Completed Fall 2010

Route 65 – Mercer County
Resurface 33 miles from the Iowa state line to Rte. 6.
Project Begins Spring 2010 – Completed Fall 2010