132nd St!!!

[Coyote]

Finally, 132nd will reopen

The frustrating wait for completion of 132nd Street north of West Dodge Road is almost over.

Kiewit Western Co., hired this month to finish the widening job, has completed the paving. All four lanes should be open to traffic by Friday evening or Saturday morning at the latest, said Steve Hansen, a Kiewit official.

Hansen said the agreement with the city called for having the pavement completed by Friday. He said the work was finished Wednesday.

Crews are completing lane markers, and as soon as that is done all the lanes will open, he said.

Through November, lanes will be closed periodically as crews complete sidewalks and other work, Hansen said.

Drivers have shown their appreciation for the progress Kiewit has made by honking and giving the thumbs-up sign, Hansen said. Crews have widened 132nd Street from two lanes to four between West Dodge and Blondo Street.

Norm Jackman, city public works director, said he is pleased the project is wrapping up.

"We're glad Kiewit was available," he said. "We believe they've done a good job."

The City of Omaha hired Kiewit after canceling its contract with WBE Co. of Valley earlier this month.

City officials say WBE could not provide assurances that it could finish the project before cold weather put the work on hold.

The project had an April 2003 start date.

Officials with WBE did not return a call Friday seeking comment.

Bringing in Kiewit to finish the job will add $233,000 to the project's $1.6 million cost, city officials said. The city intends to try recovering any additional costs from WBE's bonding company.

Officials with the bonding company, Liberty Mutual in Pennsylvania, have declined to comment.


All four lanes of 132nd Street between West Dodge Road and Blondo Street are expected to be open by Saturday morning. This view Friday looks south toward Dodge.

[Brad]

Its about f***in time, now if they will just finish Fort St. Kewit did a great job.