A rebuilt Farmers’ Turnpike is expected to reopen for traffic by Thanksgiving, a Douglas County official said.

The $1.63 million project to rebuild a 2.2-mile section of the road, formally known as Douglas County Road 438, started in June and runs from the road’s intersection with the South Lawrence Trafficway west to Douglas County Road 1029, which is the curve that leads north toward Lecompton.

Until a week ago, Perry-based Hamm Construction Inc. had been slightly behind schedule following “a much wetter summer and early fall than is typical,” said Keith Browning, county engineer and director of public works.

But a recent warm spell has allowed crews to continue paving, thus retaining the long-anticipated hope of reopening for traffic by Thanksgiving, perhaps even Nov. 21. “We’re still optimistic,” Browning said.