Crews blow up bridge over I-70 in western Kansas

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the bridge is over I-70.

6:45 p.m. UPDATE: The Kansas Department of Transportation says all lanes are now open on Interstate 70 at WaKeeney.

4:20 p.m. UPDATE: The Kansas Department of Transportation says the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 have reopened at WaKeeney. However, the eastbound lanes remain closed at Exit 95 near Grainfield for debris cleanup from the bridge demolition at mile marker 117 earlier today.

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Department of Transportation have shared videos of Wednesday morning’s bridge demolition in Trego County. Because of the demolition, a section of Interstate 70 is closed for approximately 24 hours.

More than 10,000 drivers are expected to be detoured off of I-70 before the bridge removal project is finished. It started around 4 a.m. Wednesday. KDOT expects I-70 to be reopened by 4 a.m. Thursday. Neighboring counties have been concerned about the risk from thousands of heavy commercial vehicles having to detour through their towns.

“Emergency departments here in Sheridan county engaged in extensive planning to prepare for this,” said Sheridan county sheriff Brandon Carver. “When you get an influx of traffic like that interstate traffic coming onto the two lanes, especially K-23 highway, that’s a big concern for us with the all the hills and lack of shoulders and just little to no margin for error there. Be vigilant.”

The Kansas Department of Transportation closed I-70 in Gove and Trego counties so crews couild remove the 150 Avenue bridge in Trego County.

Westbound lanes of I-70 are closed from exits 115 and 128 between Collyer and WaKeeney. Eastbound lanes are closed from exits 95 and 120 between Grainfield and Voda Road.

KDOT says signs will detour drivers to highways north of the interstate: Kansas Highway 23, U.S. Highway 24 and U.S. Highway 283. Drivers may use other routes if they prefer. The construction that has been happening on U.S. 283 is suspended for the day.

Last month, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office and the Hoxie Police Department expressed concerns over safety issues created by the detour. They are concerned that K-23’s narrow roads with no shoulders cannot handle heavy traffic. Hoxie USD 412 canceled school on Sept. 4 over safety concerns.

The WaKeeney Police Department also took to social media to prepare citizens for heavier traffic. Police have closed access between U.S. 283 and Russell Avenue so the traffic does not go by the high school. Parents are asked to warn student drivers to slow down and be extra alert on Wednesday.

Gove County Sheriff Shawn Mesch says drivers need to be patient to avoid accidents.

“Everybody knows it’s coming, and we’re just ready to go, ready to deal with what gets thrown at us,” said Mesch. “We want to avoid any bad scenarios, and that means avoid distracted driving, especially on the detour.”

The Hill City Police Department also posted about the extra traffic. It says the Kansas Highway Patrol has extra troopers in the area and along the detour route. Graham County USD 281 will be releasing students at 1:30 on Wednesday due to teacher training.

KDOT says drivers should plan for delays and consider using other alternative routes if possible. KDOT crews will assist with directing traffic. It has enacted a 12-foot width restriction and a 100-foot length restriction on the detour route.

The 150th Avenue bridge over I-70 is being removed because of damage from multiple tall vehicles hitting it over the years. KDOT closed the bridge in March because of concerns over structural deficiencies.

KDOT says plans for replacing the bridge are currently in the works.

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