Due to a forecast of rain this week, a project that was scheduled to begin Monday to replace deteriorated concrete roadway tying U.S.-50 and U.S.-77 to access points of a roundabout at Florence had been delayed. However, by Tuesday morning, crews were optimistic and the roads were closed, in anticipation of construction.

Plans called for construction to be completed within seven days, weather permitting. The project would be under construction 24 hours a day seven days a week.

An average of 1,500 feet of roadway will be removed and replaced on U.S.-50 on either side of the roundabout. Traffic will be detoured for the duration of the project. The official detour will take eastbound traffic exiting I-135 on to U.S.-50 at Newton north on K-15 to U.S.-56, then east on U.S.-56 which becomes K-150 east of Marion, then continue east to rejoin U.S.-50 south of Elmdale. Westbound traffic will drive the same route in reverse. Local traffic will be able to access the highway using county roads.

Replacing the roadway tying U.S.-77 to the roundabout is scheduled to occur immediately following the reopening of U.S.-50. Work on U.S.-77 will be completed while moving traffic through the work zone via temporary traffic lights. The U.S.-77 portion of the project is scheduled for completion by the end of May.

Smokey Hill Construction is the contractor of this project. The project cost is $1.3 million.