Two I-70 reconstruction projects in Ellsworth & Lincoln Counties began September 7, 2010 are scheduled for completion in December of 2011.

One begins 9 miles east of the Ellsworth/Russell County line, then east to a point 0.75 miles west of the K-14 north junction (exit 221) and the other begins at the Ellsworth/Lincoln County Line, then east to the Lincoln/Saline County line.

These projects are each approximately 8 miles in length, with a 5 mile section of undisturbed roadway between them.

Two new construction projects; one beginning 0.75 of a mile west of the K-14 north junction then east to the Ellsworth/Lincoln County line and connects the projects mentioned above and the other begins at the Ellsworth/Russell County line then east 8.3 miles eventually connecting to the first project mentioned. These two new projects are scheduled for construction in 2012.

In an effort to complete next year’s projects as early as mid-October of 2012 the existing work zones will be expanded to include four sets of bridges this fall. The expansion of the work zones will begin Monday, August 15, 2011. The current projects along with the additional bridges are now scheduled for completion in mid-December of this year. At that time traffic will be returned to the normal separated four lanes for the winter months.

Work scheduled for next year includes the removal of six inches of asphalt and replacing that with six inches of concrete. Plans call for traffic to be placed on the westbound lanes beginning in Mid-March of 2012 allowing for the overlay to occur on the eastbound lanes. Traffic will then be transferred to the newly overlaid eastbound lanes in June so that work can begin on the overlaying of the westbound lanes.