Progress continues on the quarter-mile section of U.S. 281 that washed away when the Spencer Dam collapsed March 14th. Hawkins Construction of Omaha was awarded the $25.5 million contract to rebuild the Highway 281 bridge over Niobrara River south of Spencer, NE. According to a story in the Omaha World-Herald, a temporary lane will be built and a traffic signal will be installed to allow travel during the construction process. The above contract price covers the single temporary lane and the bridge as well as a permanent bridge over the river. It is estimated the bridge will be open by November 2020 and that the project will be fully completed by spring 2021.