BEATRICE – A Bennett, Nebraska company has been selected to complete several concrete box culvert projects in Gage County.
The Gage County Board Wednesday approved the bid of Vogtscapes, Inc. at a cost of $2.377 million. The county plans to replace bridges at six locations with single or twin concrete box culverts.


Highway Superintendent Mark Kuhnke and a consulting engineer for the county reviewed bids submitted by four companies.  "After reviewing all the bids that were submitted and discussing with the engineer, we as the road department decided ..it would be in the best interests to go with Vogtscapes...awarding the contract to Vogtscapes, pending Corps permits and easements. They were the lowest bid."

Construction on the projects would begin between July and October.


The projects would be financed through a bridge sinking fund within the highway department and possibly county inheritance tax revenue. The county has a balance in the inheritance fund of some $5 million.


Gage County is awaiting word on whether it will receive funding from two major federal grant programs. Word could come on one of them in June, while the other will not be known until late summer or early fall.