NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska (KNOP) – The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved the 11th payment request for the North Sutherland Bridge project.

Construction of the bridge was briefly halted as engineers worked behind the scenes to finalize quantities so contractors could order critical materials.

According to board chairman Joe Hewgley, materials have been ordered and work on the bridge will resume shortly.

“How many square feet and square meters are the embankments, slopes and trees and how many trees are there? Those are things that the engineers have been working on behind the scenes,” Hewgley said.

Hewgley said 50 juniper and 85 American plum trees will be planted next to the bridge. The county will also plant some trees of its own as part of a bridge agreement.

Hewgley said the project had been on the radar for some time.

“It was moved a little bit to allow for a better approach so it’s not as steep on the curve or the angle,” Hewgley said. “So safety was the most important thing, from the approach to the width of the bridge to the load-bearing capacity. Everything about this bridge was approved.”

Even though the bridge looks finished, several safety aspects still need to be checked before it is opened to the public, such as marking the roadway and installing all guard rails.

According to Jason Shultz, Lincoln County’s highway superintendent, there is no set date yet for the bridge’s opening.

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