Douglas County is about to save more than $60,000 on a road project — all without cutting a single ton of asphalt, pile of signs or truckload of gravel.

Instead, county commissioners can thank the continued sluggish economy for shrinking the expected construction bill for the upcoming overhaul of County Road 1029, between the Farmers Turnpike and Lecompton.

“I do think circumstances right now are conducive to good bids,” said Keith Browning, county engineer and director of public works. “Contractors are looking for work and I think that’s going to mean more positive bids for agencies like ours.”

Construction crews won’t have to go far.

Hamm Inc., of Perry, beat out three other companies for the job, which will revamp a 2.75-mile section of the road.

Hamm will earn just under $1.8 million for the work, which calls for adding paved shoulders and widening ditches on both sides of the road, plus filling dips, shaving hills and repaving lanes to make travel safer.

Construction is expected to begin by the end of October, Browning said. A more concrete schedule should be determined by the end of the week.

Wednesday night, Douglas County commissioners will consider doing their part to prepare for the project.

First, they will consider whether to promise cutting a $398,182 check, payable to the Kansas Department of Transportation, for the county’s share of construction and related tasks. The county total would be $67,539 less than originally anticipated, because of Hamm’s low bid.

Commissioners also will consider Browning’s recommendations for establishing temporary traffic restrictions along two gravel roads expected to become unofficial detours during the project:

• East 500 Road — which runs parallel to County Road 1029, a mile to the west — would have its speed limit lowered from the current 55 mph to 30 mph north of North 1950 Road, and to 25 mph from North 1950 Road to U.S. Highway 40.

Hamm Inc. will handle the upcoming overhaul of County Road 1029, from the Farmers Turnpike to Lecompton. Here is a list of companies that offered to do the work — which had been estimated to cost $2,116,914 — and for how much:¢ Hamm Inc., Perry, $1,799,687.72.¢ King’s Construction Co. Inc., Oskaloosa, $1,873,682.10.¢ Amino Brothers Co. Inc., Kansas City, Kan., $1,997,330.18.¢ Emerson Construction Inc., Topeka, $2,020,875.10.

• North 1850 Road’s limit also would drop from 55 mph to 25 mph for the mile between East 500 and County Road 1029.
• Commercial truck traffic would be banned from either of the roads during construction, but grain trucks and delivery vehicles still would be allowed.

Such limits would be effective only when County Road 1029 was closed to traffic, Browning said. While no firm schedule has been set, such a closing could be imposed later this year and continue until the project is done.

Wednesday’s commission meeting begins at 6:35 p.m. at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass.