204th (Highway 31) and West Dodge bridge nearly complete

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:48 am

Omaha World Herald wrote: West Dodge bridge work almost done

Bridge work that has congested traffic at West Dodge Road and Nebraska Highway 31 in Elkhorn for two years is nearly complete.

Marty Weander, project manager for the Nebraska Department of Roads, said the new West Dodge Road bridge over Highway 31, which is 204th Street, is expected to open at the end of this week.

Work on Highway 31 under the bridge is expected to be completed in the first or second week of November, Weander said.

All of the concrete has been poured on the $18.5 million project, but some street curbs and traffic signals need to be installed along Highway 31, he said.

The construction site, originally to be complete by the summer of 2005, is ahead of schedule, Weander said.

"Hawkins Construction has done a good job on the project," he said.

Construction on West Dodge Road east and west of the Highway 31 intersection will continue, Weander said.

Work is scheduled to close 192nd Street at West Dodge Road from Tuesday until Nov. 30 for ramp construction and dirt work on an interchange at the intersection. The contractor is Charles Vrana & Sons Construction Co.

West Dodge Road is scheduled to be three lanes in each direction from Omaha west to the bridge over Highway 31 by 2006, Weander said.

Dodge will continue as two lanes in each direction west of the bridge to connect with U.S. Highway 275 to Fremont, Weander said.

Likewise, work continues on the widening of Highway 31 north of the West Dodge Road bridge, said Zahi Khalaf, manager of that project for the Roads Department.

The $2.4 million project to widen Highway 31 to two lanes in each direction through Elkhorn is behind schedule to be completed by the end of the year, Khalaf said.

The Highway 31 project, which began in March, is only about a third completed, Khalaf said. The Nebraska Department of Roads has filed a notice of default against contractor WBE Co. on the project.

CountOfMC · Post by **CountOfMC** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 9:55 pm

So, when and if this new outer loop is to take shape, do they plan on running it all the way through Elkhorn or will it be diverted further west to Highway 275 when you reach Dodge? Remember, Highway 275 is pretty much a freeway out there.. I'm just having a hard time imagining the loop going directly through Elkhorn.. doesn't seem wide enough with all the nearby houses hugging the road.

Will · Post by **Will** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:21 pm

What loop? did I miss something in the article?

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 9:05 am

370 has been widened and is like a freeway from Bellevue to Gretna. Then 204th street is mostly 2 lanes in each direction from Gretna to Elkhorn. The construction starts at Dodge and goes north a couple of miles to Elkhorn. So it's a loop from Bellevue all the way to Elkhorn. There are a few stop lights here and there but pretty smooth sailing.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 7:34 pm

370 is not widened yet from I80 to Gretna, only from Bellevue to I80.

CountOfMC · Post by **CountOfMC** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:33 pm

I thought I heard someone on this forum say that Highway 31 was to evolve into the new interstate loop (I-880)...whether they would eventually have an interchange at 370 and 31 i have no idea.. maybe they'd have another interchange at I-80 and 31 (Neb Outlet Mall). My question was, if this happened, would it run north through Elkhorn or would it go around Elkhorn via Dodge to 275. I don't know if this was in the works at all.. just a thought.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 10:00 am

They should build it west of gretna and run it north though the farm land and join up with 275 west of the elkhorn river turning east so that it runs north of bennington and conects into 680 somewhere between the 72nd and irventington exit. there is plenty of undeveloped land along this route, and nither 80 or 680 has be done at this point so they could easly build in the exits with out much disruption. They state could do the whole project in 4-5 years because they don't neet to build runarounds or worry about lowering the speed limit, or any of the other construction headaches that go along with projects of this magnatuide.

OhioStreetKid · Post by **OhioStreetKid** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 11:22 am

I thought I'd ressurect this thread to let everyone now, that I drove through here the other day, and the overpass is now open. Finishing touches are all that remains on this project.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:00 am

Speaking of all this road construction...

It seems like some of Omaha's bigger projects are starting to be completed. I've recently driven north 680 all the way up to Maple, which is now smooth as a whistle, three lanes each way (not including exit lanes), as well as 72nd Street between Dodge and I-80 is practically all opened up now.

And I know we are just starting to see work on the WD Expressway (and WOW might I add), but other aspects of the whole Dodge/680 interchange have been completed.

I think one of these days, Omahans will just be out driving and go, "Oh weird. I can stop constantly complaining about road construction, because a lot of the projects are done, and you know what? It was worth it."

Imagine that, an Omahan saying something positive about the roads.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 6:55 pm

I have no idea how I came across this thread, but it looks like your not destined to be the next Nostradamus Streets.

StreetsOfOmaha wrote:I think one of these days, Omahans will just be out driving and go, "Oh weird. I can stop constantly complaining about road construction, because a lot of the projects are done, and you know what? It was worth it."

Imagine that, an Omahan saying something positive about the roads.

:lol:

mrdwhsr · Post by **mrdwhsr** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:36 pm

CountOfMC wrote:I thought I heard someone on this forum say that Highway 31 was to evolve into the new interstate loop (I-880)...whether they would eventually have an interchange at 370 and 31 i have no idea.. maybe they'd have another interchange at I-80 and 31 (Neb Outlet Mall). My question was, if this happened, would it run north through Elkhorn or would it go around Elkhorn via Dodge to 275. I don't know if this was in the works at all.. just a thought.

The plans that MAPA has done for a new interstate loop show two options, neither of which involve Highway 31 or 370.

One option would run across northern Douglas county and Bennington and connect with 275 which would extend south to I-80. The existing I-680 bridge would be used to connect with I-29/I-680 in Iowa.

The other option would be built through Washington and Saunders counties. It would connect with I-680 by Loveland IA and with I-80 west of the Platte.

If it were up to me (and most on the forum are glad it isn't) I would combine option 1 and 2. Connect with I-680 at Loveland, new Missouri River bride, a connection with US 30 by Arlington, southwest to a connection with 275, and south to I-80.
Building a beltway south and west of the Platte really breaks down a natural barrier to suburban sprawl or ensures the new loop isn't consumed the way I-680 has been. Choose your option.

Considering the shortfall in road-use taxes that Nebraska's highway department projects - I don't see either option being funded in the next decade. Unless support materializes for an increase in gasoline taxes?

S33 · Post by **S33** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:10 pm

Having hit "Peak Oil" production in the early 70's, I think that as time goes on and affordable oil fades away, we are increasingly less likely to see any added Omaha area freeway miles unless we see an affordable use of alternative energy for automobile transportation. It just wouldn't make any sense, heck, it would only take a small skirmish in the Strait of Hormuz to make driving unaffordable.

In lieu of our vulnerability to imported oil, it makes you wonder why the hesitation to implement other forms of transit in Omaha. Omaha would come to a screeching halt in the event of an energy crisis.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:17 pm

Careful. You're starting to sound like one of us America-hatin' liberal urban hipsters.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:35 pm

I do, when it makes sense - which is rare.

Seth · Post by **Seth** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 11:14 am

The gas tax has to go up, whether anyone has the guts to raise it or not. Over the past two decades since the federal gas tax was raised, the highway trust fund has been hit with a triple-whammy of inflation, increased road construction costs (due to higher energy prices), and reduced revenue as a result of increasing average fuel efficiency. Did anyone notice that the non-partisan deficit commission recommended significant (but gradual) increases on the gas tax? Of course, like most of their sensible and realistic (although perhaps painful) recommendations, its being ripped apart by partisan special interests.

Another factor to consider when discussing highway expansion is the future maintenance costs. It's funny that its the first thing detractors jump on for transit projects, but I've never heard it mentioned when it comes to highway projects, yet it is significant. Not just the pavement repair and replacement, but trash pickup, mowing, snow removal etc. Have you noticed that states have begun to repave sections of interstate with asphalt instead of concrete? Concrete has about a 50-year design life versus asphalt at about 10 years, but a lot of maintenance funds can't afford the up-front costs. Repaving with asphalt 5 times is a lot more expensive than pouring concrete once, but like most of our budget problems, we're just kicking the can down the road to get it beyond the next election.