Eleven-mile road project begins north of Imperial

    Work began Tuesday to prepare Hwy. 61 north of Imperial for new pavement. The 11-mile project will begin at the Hwy. 23/61 junction east of Grant and proceed south to the Perkins/Chase county line.
    Project Manager Jodie Smith, from the District 7 Roads office in McCook, said the top two inches of asphalt on the existing roadway will be milled off.
    She explained that by taking off just two inches, traffic can be maintained on the remaining surface prior to paving.
    One lane of traffic will be maintained through the construction area, with the use of flaggers and a pilot car.
    The milling machine is wide enough to allow an entire lane to be milled. She noted they mill in one direction, turn around and mill the same stretch going the other direction.
    That ensures there is no dropoff between the two lanes.
    Three more inches will be milled off just prior to paving. The first lift of asphalt will be three inches, again, allowing traffic to be maintained.
    The second lift will add another two inches for a total of five inches.
    She noted a two-foot apron, eight inches thick, will be added to the outside of each lane.
    Millings will be used as part of the new asphalt mix, she added.
    The $4.2 million project was originally slated to start in mid-May. However, Werner Construction of Hastings, the general contractor on the job, requested and was granted a later start date.
    Anticipated completion of the project is slated for Decem-ber.