Highway staff outlines Bridge 602 schedule, utility coordination and MPO funding window
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Summary
Highway staff updated commissioners Nov. 3 on Bridge 602 (Smith Valley Road), describing utility coordination, railroad flagging considerations, and MPO funding timing with a FY2028 letting window.
Highway staff briefed Johnson County commissioners Nov. 3 on construction scheduling, utility coordination and funding options for Bridge 602 on Smith Valley Road and other highway items.
Luke Masten, highway supervisor, asked the board to permit the department to approach the county council next week for additional project appropriations and to set a bid date for 2026 material contracts (aggregate, concrete, FOB hot mix, liquid asphalt) on Dec. 15, 2025; commissioners approved both requests.
Masten provided a project update for Bridge 602, saying delays stem largely from utility coordination. He said Duke Energy transmission lines that conflicted with the project have been relocated so they can be temporarily de‑energized or removed for specific work (for example setting beams or driving piles). Masten cautioned that Duke’s relocation work may still result in costs for the bridge project and that scheduling will be limited by seasonal constraints on transmission outages.
Staff also discussed coordination with the railroad; preliminary conversations aim to limit flagging (a flagman) to only the periods when it is needed. Masten said that much of the work can be scheduled away from the railroad right‑of‑way to reduce flagging time, but flagged work could still be a substantial cost depending on the final schedule.
On timing and funding, Masten said the county’s MPO federal exchange funding is in the fiscal year 2028 window; letting could be as early as July 2027 with construction likely to span multiple seasons and possibly about a year of active construction. He said the county could choose to let earlier by advancing MPO federal exchange dollars and be reimbursed later, but would need to cover costs up front. He said roughly $2.25 million (staff estimate) from the MPO will help fund construction (staff noted they still must finalize figures and schedules). A commissioner asked whether the project could be completed sooner; staff reiterated that advancing exchange funds is an option but requires substantial upfront cash.
Commissioners also asked staff to follow up on a local drainage issue under Willow Lakes street and for additional coordination with municipalities and developers on stormwater matters.
Ending: Commissioners approved the appropriation request and the Dec. 15 bid date; staff will continue coordination with Duke Energy, the railroad and MPO staff and return with a detailed construction schedule and cost estimate.
