County Accepts Bid to Resurface East 29th Ave.

COLUMBUS - Platte County Officials approved a bid on Tuesday to resurface East 29th Avenue on the edge of Columbus. A bid was approved for $283,426.95 to complete the project this summer, with reconstruction of the road beginning this summer. A bid submitted to county officials sets the project start date for August, but county officials said the project could begin as early as May of this year.  County officials say they will be working with ADM to make the project move as smoothly as possible, while making room for truck traffic to still move through. The project to build a viaduct on East 29th Avenue is still moving forward. County Board Chairman Jerry Engdahl says they are currently waiting for a signed agreement to return from the state, and says he expects it to be completed soon. Engdahl says construction on the viaduct is still expected to begin in 2019. The county is currently working with Union Pacific who is asking for $1,045 right of way fee to be paid, in order for the resurfacing project to be completed. The county approved that the fee be paid, but highway department officials say they are working with UP to see if the fee can be avoided.