Last week’s issue of the Red Cloud Chief warned resident of the community of a major down street project expected to start in the spring of 2026 and detour traffic on Highways 281 and 136 to other communities.
According to a state highway study, the downtown brick streets constructed in 1917 have reached the end of their useful life span. An estimated 750,000 bricks need to be replaced. The majority of the bricks exhibit corner breaks or round edges from years of travel. A study completed in 2015 found that 65 to 75 percent of the bricks do meet the required thickness standard.
The proposed project will reconstruct approximately 0.71 miles of US-281 from approximately First Avenue to Eleventh Avenue and 0.22 miles of US 136 from the just west of Cedar Street and extending to just west of Locust Street.
In addition to replacing the pavement, there would be additional storm sewer, sidewalk and lighting improvements.
Outside of the downtown area, the existing pavement will be replaced with concrete. However, within the historic district, the state proposes using brick paver replacements.
The designated detour for Highway 136 would utilize Nebraska highways 10, 4 and 78. The designated detour for Highway 281 would utilize Nebraska highways 4 and 78 and Kansas highway 128 and US 36.
The timeline projects about a year would be needed to complete the project.
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