Beatrice public works officials say downtown Court Street could reopen in the next week

BEATRICE – If all goes well, public works officials in Beatrice say Court Street through the downtown area could reopen to travel, next week.
The two variables that could affect that schedule are rain and colder temperatures.

A contractor has been replacing aging water main in the downtown area and service connections to businesses have been underway.
Water Superintendent Steve Kelley says Myers Construction officials are finishing up the project, and the last part will be additional asphalt work by the street department.

"It's pretty much on schedule. Between Fourth and Seventh, they hope to have it open October 14th. They should be done with it this week, and then Jason (Moore, Street Supt) will get the blacktop in...and it should all be wrapped up sometime the first part of next week, I'm guessing."

Street Superintendent Jason Moore said the asphalt work is finished between Fourth and Fifth with the exception of one hole at 4th and Court. A concrete base will be poured with asphalt installed over the top.

"There's one hole on the intersection of Fifth and Court. They have to pour the concrete base back underneath that...and then we'll put the asphalt over there. There's also one hole on the south side of the Kensington. They were doing a repair and hit a vault...a brick riser that went down to a valve...and they had to clean that up. There's another one right in the intersection of Sixth and Court...a little repair that has to be made there. My guys are finishing up between Sixth and Seventh..all of the asphalt. We are waiting on one hole at Fourth, one hole on Fifth...and two right on the corner of Sixth and Court."

Moore anticipates some repairs will be done on Court Street between 7th and 9th.  Street crews have also been doing concrete repairs around the city. Moore says Industrial Row between U.S. Highway 77 and the Christensen Field entrance will be closed for about a week to repair concrete blow-ups in that area. A similar repair will be done at a location on Second Street. After the asphalt and concrete work is done, street crews will begin crack sealing work on some city streets.