BEATRICE – The installation of decorative rails on the South 6th Street River bridge in Beatrice is about to shift over to the west side of the structure.


Beatrice Street crew members have been replacing the old rusted rails on the Big Blue River bridge…..a larger project than the West Court Street bridge rails partly because of the longer span.


City Street Superintendent Jason Moore spoke about the project with the Beatrice Board of Public Works on Wednesday.  "Things went fairly smooth for us to get one side done. I was guessing it took us about one week to get one side. By the time we jump over and as long as the other side goes as the same as the northbound did....I still think we're looking at two-and-a-half weeks for us to get done."


The electric department of the city is also installing new conduit on the bridge which replaces conduit built into the bridge deck. Decorative lighting will also eventually be installed on the South 6th bridge… similar to that put in place on the West Court River bridge.


BPW members expressed some concern about motorists knocking down traffic cones through the construction zone on the bridge. Drivers should ease up on the gas pedal and use caution through that area, which is reduced to one lane in each direction.


Moore says after the rails project is completed his department crews will start undertaking crack sealing work on some city streets. He says some concrete work also remains on Industrial Row west of Ashland Avenue…but asphalt repairs have largely been completed for the season.