180th Street Bridge North of Dodge

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:52 am

I know we have discussed the need for this bridge in other threads. It would be of Dodge on 180th Street over the Union Pacific Railroad, Over the Old Lincoln Highway and Over the Creek and then connect back in to 180th near Blondo Streets.

A few weeks ago I was at a planning conference and a local developer brought it up and asked the guys from the city when it would be built. They said something about Its planned but not in the near future and they also have no funding on for it yet.

This past weekend Grow Omaha at Steve Jensen on. Trenton (who was also at that same conference) asked him again and he also said it needs to be done, but still nothing set in stone.

He also mentioned they need to think about aesthetics because it goes over the old Lincoln highway.

Another important note is that eventually 180th will connect to I80 near Valla's Pumpkin Patch, so this road will be a major through street.

Here is a map of the area:

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:08 am

A bridge there would need quite a bit of ramping to make it possible. I doubt they could make a connection with the Old Lincoln Hwy, and they would have to move the historic markers there also. I can't see 180th as a major street in the near future, but I could have said the same for 132nd 40 years ago...

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:24 am

I don't think they want any connection to Old Lincoln, I don't think they would want that much traffic on it.

I think it's getting close to being needed, the 168th exit on dodge gets really busy at rush hour.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:40 am

It would be nice. I was heading south on 168th and there was an accident just south of Blondo and the police had 168th blocked off. I had to drive out to 192nd and then south to Dodge Expressway to get to Village Pointe.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:09 pm

This would be a long bridge. If they don't do any creek channelization, it would probably be about a 1,400' long bridge.

I think the closest bridge to this would be the new bridge on L street by the stockyards which is about 1,250 feet long.

I80 Missouri River Bridge = +/- 2400
I80 Platte River Bridge = +/- 1800
Mormon Bridge = +/- 1500

It's not going to be cheap!

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:15 pm

That was what I was thinking. I wouldn't know if they could even hook up with Blondo without major ramps.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:48 pm

That will not be that bad, the creek doesn't need much clearance, just enough so it doesn't pool water during a high water event, the railroad will be the main factor in the bridge height. There is almost 1000 feet between Blondo and the tracks so they can ramp it up gradually.

I am sure they will just build it all up just like 168th street.

brick · Post by **brick** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:50 pm

it is currently scheduled for 2018. Not sure of length, but it will go over Lincoln Hwy, RR tracks, and creek, and come back to grade south of Blondo. The intersection of 180/Blondo will also be reconstructed. Total cost ~$30 million.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:02 pm

Looks lie the elevation of 180 and Blondo is about 1126'. Looks like the rail line at 180th is about 1138'. I think the clearance for railroads is about 22' making the bottom of the bridge elevation about 1160'. Say the girders, deck etc is 15', that would put the road about 1175'.

That's about a 5% grade which I believe is acceptable.

Also, it looks like the flood elevation in that area is about 1125' so it wouldn't surprise me if they raised the intersection of 180 than and Blondo a little too, which would help the grade.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:19 pm

Also, it wouldn't surprise me if they snaked it through there. More fill, but shorter bridge.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:17 pm

OK, I take back my concerns on this project after driving by a little while ago. I misremembered the elevations here, thinking it was similar to that of 192 and Old Lincoln Hwy. There is plenty of land available on the west side of 180th and very good elevations, for a gentle slope over the road, rail and creek.

180th looking north at the Old Lincoln Hwy

180th looking south at Blondo

The only concern would really be the bridge over Blondo to the east of 180th, but given they may want to at least put in a central lane until 190th, they may want to work on that bridge anyway.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:21 pm

Brad wrote:Also, it wouldn't surprise me if they snaked it through there. More fill, but shorter bridge.

It wouldn't surprise me either. Engineers prefer to go perpendicular over things like rivers, creeks and railroad tracks.

jessep28 · Post by **jessep28** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:04 pm

Today I learned that misremember is a word.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:08 pm

jessep28 wrote:Today I learned that misremember is a word.

Roger Clemens coined it in front of a Grand Jury: "I think Andy (Pettitte) misremembered the conversation we had about steroids and HGH."

Post by **BRoss** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 5:48 pm

As brick mentioned, it is currently scheduled for 2018 per MAPA's TIP:
http://www.mapacog.org/images/stories/T ... AL_web.pdf

In fact, it was ranked number 7 on the 2013 Project Selection Cycle. Although then again, things change. 168th was supposed to be done back in 2008 and it still has yet to start.

Post by **BRoss** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:04 pm

Brad wrote:Also, it wouldn't surprise me if they snaked it through there. More fill, but shorter bridge.

Two of the proposed plans actually snake like that:
http://www.mapacog.org/images/stories/S ... 3_rdcd.pdf

The other one snakes around the other way but is composed of two bridges:

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:58 pm

Probably too late for that third option now. Too many houses in the way.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 3:49 pm

I was just flipping around the dial and i caught the tail end of an interview on 1290. Apparently new federal regulations have cause the delay from 2010 to 2019 and have also pushed the price from $20 Million to $36 Million. Anyone know what happened?

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 6:31 pm

Brad wrote:I was just flipping around the dial and i caught the tail end of an interview on 1290. Apparently new federal regulations have cause the delay from 2010 to 2019 and have also pushed the price from $20 Million to $36 Million. Anyone know what happened?

I think info came out about this when we were down. Apparently there is a drainage ditch that is considered a navigable body of water according to the federal gov't that is throwing a wrench in things.

cdub · Post by **cdub** » Thu May 14, 2015 3:18 pm

The original consultant did a terrible job of beginning the process and had this project under a CE class, which is the simplest one. Ha!, a bridge this big over a historic roadway and the creek as a CE?

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Fri May 29, 2015 8:32 pm

"CE"?

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 1:43 am

nativeomahan wrote:"CE"?

Categorical Exclusion. CE projects typically have little impact on the surrounding environment, like repaving projects, and are exempt from environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Nov 19, 2015 10:04 pm

Approved!!!!

Story on KETV right now!

Completed by 2020

Post by **Brad** » Thu Nov 19, 2015 10:28 pm

Story:
http://bit.ly/1MXIXIk

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Nov 19, 2015 10:51 pm

And we have the KETV I-Team to thank.

ita · Post by **ita** » Wed Jan 30, 2019 4:14 pm

I just read this really thorough article about the work that begins this year in connecting 180th to Blondo. It outlines the proposed timetable for completion of the project, which includes additional infrastructure improvement with 180th up to Maple. I like the thought put into the bridge design and hope everything goes smoothly as it is much needed for continued development of this area.

http://www.dcpostgazette.com/news/featu ... 0237c.html

Post by **BRoss** » Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:36 pm

Nice find! It sounds like most the work won't start until 2020 though. But it will be nice to finally get this connected.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jan 30, 2019 7:12 pm

image.jpeg

Post by **BRoss** » Wed Jan 30, 2019 9:04 pm

Here's the layout:

ScrattyB · Post by **ScrattyB** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 8:52 am

Why don't they keep Blondo straight? There are plenty of non-perpendicular intersections in Omaha.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 9:20 am

Looks like the bridge would have to be longer and there might not even be room to get down to the intersection making it straight.

Bomaha · Post by **Bomaha** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 11:10 am

Let's hope that the bridge is basically built for six lanes and not just 4. At this point in our growth, you HAVE to be looking long term. I think I read only for four, but I am still crossing my fingers.

ScrattyB · Post by **ScrattyB** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:42 pm

iamjacobm wrote: Thu Jan 31, 2019 9:20 am Looks like the bridge would have to be longer and there might not even be room to get down to the intersection making it straight.

Are you responding to me? My question was about Blondo.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:54 pm

ScrattyB wrote: Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:42 pm
iamjacobm wrote: Thu Jan 31, 2019 9:20 am Looks like the bridge would have to be longer and there might not even be room to get down to the intersection making it straight.
Are you responding to me? My question was about Blondo.

Closest to 90 degree intersections are preferred design I imagine.

Post by **BRoss** » Fri Feb 01, 2019 1:53 pm

Intersections at weird angles tend to be more accident prone. As iamjacobm said, they prefer to keep them close to 90°.

Post by **BRoss** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:46 pm

This project has begun: http://keepomahamoving.com/projects/180 ... ty-project

Anticipated Project Schedule:
Spring 2020: The contractor will begin site work with tree clearing and will begin to build embankments as well as the new viaduct structures between N HWS Cleveland and Blondo Street. Old Lincoln Highway will remain closed at this time, and construction traffic will be entering and leaving the jobsite via 180th Street and Blondo Street.

Summer 2020: Beginning in July 2020, the contractor will close Blondo Street from 176th Avenue and 183rd Street to allow reconstruction of Blondo Street, the bridge crossing Whispering Ridge Creek, and the intersection with 180th Street. Work will continue between N HWS Cleveland and Blondo Street, which will require that Old Lincoln Highway remain closed. 180th Street will remain open from just north of Blondo Street to West Maple Road.

Fall 2021: Work will conclude on the reconstruction of Blondo Street, 180th Street south of Blondo, and the bridge structures carrying 180th Street over Old Lincoln Highway, the Union Pacific Railroad, and West Papillion Creek. Blondo Street throughout the project and 180th Street from West Dodge to Blondo will be opened to traffic. Old Lincoln Highway will return to its seasonal use schedule.

The contractor will move northward to complete 180th Street from Blondo to the north end of the project as well as reconstructing the bridge crossing Whispering Ridge Creek. 180th Street will be closed from Blondo to West Maple, and from West Maple to the northern terminus of the project at George Miller Parkway. West Maple Road will remain open throughout the project, however there will be temporary lane closures to allow for widening and median construction during this phase.

Winter 2022: Contractor completes reconstruction of 180th Street north of Blondo, and opens all lanes to traffic.

Post by **BRoss** » Mon Aug 31, 2020 9:49 pm

Here's a webcam and time lapse for this project: https://app.truelook.com/?u=d1158645408 ... e_archives

Post by **Brad** » Tue Sep 01, 2020 10:13 am

I came across this aerial video of the bridge, looks like its from July:
[youtube][/youtube]

Post by **BRoss** » Tue Sep 01, 2020 12:10 pm

Brad wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2020 10:13 am I came across this aerial video of the bridge, looks like its from July:
[youtube][/youtube]

Nice! I've been watching the progress from the webcam, but you can't see nearly as much as what this showed.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Sep 08, 2020 9:43 am

HR Paperstacks wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2020 12:10 pm Nice! I've been watching the progress from the webcam, but you can't see nearly as much as what this showed.

I was surprised by the progress on the Blondo Street Bridge too.