(KNZA)--Construction of new passing lanes on U.S. 75 Highway in Brown County is scheduled to begin Monday, June 7, weather permitting.

The Kansas Department of Transportation says the $8 million project will begin about three miles north of the intersection with K-20 and extend north 2.5 miles. The bridge over Plum Creek will also be widened during the project.

KDOT says both northbound and southbound passing lanes are being added.

One lane in each direction will remain open to traffic for a majority of the project. Traffic will be reduced to one lane with the usage of temporary signals during a later phase of the project.

Work will take place Monday through Friday during daytime hours, and is expected to be completed by April 2022.

Hamm Inc., of Perry is the contractor on the $8 million project.

In a separate project, passing lanes are currently being added to a two-mile stretch of U.S. 75 in Jackson County, just south of the intersection with K-9 Highway near Netawaka.

That $4 million project is also slated to be completed by April of next year.

Hamm Inc., of Perry, is the contractor on both projects.