Douglas County commissioners on Monday approved expanding a bridge replacement project.

The project involves replacing the Kasold bridge along County Road 438 over the Kansas Turnpike. A new culvert also will be put in north of the bridge as part of the project, said Keith Browning, county engineer and director of public works.

Browning said the original plan was to extend the culvert. But it was decided the culvert should be replaced to increase its capacity to carry stormwater and decrease the probability of water rising to the level of the turnpike’s pavement.

The decision to replace the culvert increased the estimated cost of construction to $2.8 million from about $2.4 million. The project is being funded with federal dollars received by the city of Lawrence, Douglas County and the Kansas Turnpike Authority.