Columbus engineer says 20th Street paving on track; Loop River work to pause river use August–October

City engineer Rick Bogus told the Columbus City Council on July 21 that the Nebraska Department of Transportation reconstruction of 20 Third Avenue is progressing and remains on the contractor—stimated schedule.

Bogus said more concrete is in place than at the previous update and that a closure of 20 Third Avenue will be required for a longer paving pour. "They're scheduled to open 26 Avenues Crossing on Thursday, which would also mean then that 20 Third Avenue crossing will close on Thursday," Bogus said. He told the council that the paving could be completed "probably early in September," while the broader project will continue through November.

The council also heard a separate update on the Loop River Bridge work. Bogus said crews have removed segments on the south side and hauled material away, but environmental restrictions delay some work in the river until Aug. 1. "Right now, it's not finalized, but it's the first weekend in August that they'll do that," he said, referring to planned blasts to clear the river site. Bogus said crews are preparing a temporary contractor bridge and that the Pawnee Park underpass concrete pour has been completed and is being readied to route the trail.

Bogus said the Nebraska Department of Transportation will issue a press release and has informed local users that recreation access at the river crossing will need to cease at that site from Aug. 1 through October while work is concentrated there. "Come August 1 through October, the recreation for the river will need to cease at that site," he said. He added the DOT will install signage and attempt to notify frequent users but acknowledged outreach to some groups may be harder.

Council members asked about the northbound bridge condition and whether the bridge would be entirely replaced. Bogus said repairs planned for the northbound bridge are patching and railing fixes rather than full reconstruction, and that a future full re-decking will be required at an unspecified later date. On 20 Third Avenue, he told the council the closure will likely last several weeks and that the roadway probably will not be reopened by the start of school.

The updates were presented during the "Reports of city offices" portion of the meeting; no formal council votes or actions were recorded on the projects during the July 21 meeting.

The DOT is the lead agency for both projects, and Bogus framed the city's role as monitoring and communicating schedule and access changes to local users.