Lincoln Beltway

[ProgKingHughesker]

Problem is this was built 40 years too late. If NE-2 had been a freeway or at least very limited access a beltway wouldn't be necessary but the amount of truck traffic now is just too much for the road (and the people who commute on it) to handle

[Coyote]

State now expected to complete long-delayed expressway system in 2036
Lincoln South Beltway set to open Wednesday, four years after construction began

LINCOLN — The long-delayed state expressway system — once projected to be completed by 2003— is now expected to be completed by 2036, state lawmakers were told Tuesday. That’s good news, because last year, the projected end date was 2040, according to John Selmer, the director of the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Selmer, during an annual briefing with the Legislature’s Appropriations and Transportation and Telecommunications committees, said that a combination of factors came together to move up the timeline. The expressway project was designed to link Nebraska communities larger than 15,000 people to an Interstate with a four-lane, divided expressway.

Faster studies

One factor was devoting more resources to complete engineering and environmental studies, he said, and additional funding from the state and the federal infrastructure bill. That bill will increase federal highway funds by about $110 million, Selmer said. He pointed to two expressway projects where the timetable has been moved up — U.S. Highway 77 from Mead to Fremont and U.S. 81 between York and Columbus. About $800 million worth of expressway work remains to be done, Selmer said, with about 70% of the 600-miles of expressway already completed.

Lincoln Beltway opening early

Meanwhile, state transportation and City of Lincoln officials will gather Wednesday morning to officially open the Lincoln South Beltway.


The Lincoln South Beltway, to open on Wednesday, creates a new route for Nebraska Highway 2 around south Lincoln. (Courtesy Nebraska Department of Transportation)

The beltway, an 11-mile, four-lane freeway around south Lincoln, was expected to be completed by the fall of 2024, four years after construction began. But good weather, along with some unique financing, allowed Hawkins Construction to finish the $352-million project early. It is the largest project ever undertaken by the NDOT. Selmer said Tuesday that some work remains to be done, but the bypass freeway — designed to reduce traffic congestion through Lincoln on old Nebraska Highway 2 — will be opened to traffic on Wednesday.

[Coyote]

BELTWAY OPENING

[gkudrna]

This is something I think Omaha needs on the west side of town, out toward 275. Connecting 275 to I80 directly would be nice.

[almighty_tuna]

This is something I think Omaha needs on the west side of town, out toward 275. Connecting 275 to I80 directly would be nice.

I don't know whether there have been any updates to this regarding the west side of the metro, but here's a feasibility study from 2010.
https://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... Report.pdf

FWIW the south portion through Sarpy Co. is already in the works
https://www.connectsarpy.com/updates/pl ... expressway

[ProgKingHughesker]

BELTWAY OPENING

Any indication of when 77 will be upgraded to freeway between Van Dorn and the beltway?

[BRoss]

Any indication of when 77 will be upgraded to freeway between Van Dorn and the beltway?

According to this, it could start 2025.

[Athomsfere]

Thought some might enjoy this, Lincoln's beltway gets a shoutout.

[Louie]

Thought some might enjoy this, Lincoln's beltway gets a shoutout.

I was just watching this video haha.

[Athomsfere]

Thought some might enjoy this, Lincoln's beltway gets a shoutout.

I was just watching this video haha.

I love his stuff! And seeing something close to home get laughed at (rightfully so) made me smile.

[Louie]

Thought some might enjoy this, Lincoln's beltway gets a shoutout.

I was just watching this video haha.

I love his stuff! And seeing something close to home get laughed at (rightfully so) made me smile.

Yeah, he's a really informative dude. And it comes from a lot of experience in the field, which is great.

[Renovator2559]

Thought some might enjoy this, Lincoln's beltway gets a shoutout.

I was just watching this video haha.

Same with me, I was watching this yesterday, small world. Love Not Just Bikes and Strong Towns.

It's funny how beltways are done with the intention of easing traffic, yet end up creating more traffic congestion, at least for those cities that have multiple ring roads

[ProgKingHughesker]

Thought some might enjoy this, Lincoln's beltway gets a shoutout.

I was just watching this video haha.

Same with me, I was watching this yesterday, small world. Love Not Just Bikes and Strong Towns.

It's funny how beltways are done with the intention of easing traffic, yet end up creating more traffic congestion, at least for those cities that have multiple ring roads

Haven't watched the video yet but doesn't getting all the trucks trying to cut down off of 80 to hook up with 29 across the river from Nebraska City off the city streets serve a somewhat valuable purpose? I've been stuck in truck traffic on (former) Highway 2 through south Lincoln and it was not a fun time for anyone involved.

[Renovator2559]

Thought some might enjoy this, Lincoln's beltway gets a shoutout.

I was just watching this video haha.

Same with me, I was watching this yesterday, small world. Love Not Just Bikes and Strong Towns.

It's funny how beltways are done with the intention of easing traffic, yet end up creating more traffic congestion, at least for those cities that have multiple ring roads

Haven't watched the video yet but doesn't getting all the trucks trying to cut down off of 80 to hook up with 29 across the river from Nebraska City off the city streets serve a somewhat valuable purpose? I've been stuck in truck traffic on (former) Highway 2 through south Lincoln and it was not a fun time for anyone involved.

I mean Lincold does not abuse belrways, beltways have a purpose, though there are cities that abuse them by having multiple and even up to 4 of them.

In a way the conservative pay as you go spending of our state has prevented us from building unnecesary ring roads.

[Athomsfere]

Thought some might enjoy this, Lincoln's beltway gets a shoutout.

I was just watching this video haha.

Same with me, I was watching this yesterday, small world. Love Not Just Bikes and Strong Towns.

It's funny how beltways are done with the intention of easing traffic, yet end up creating more traffic congestion, at least for those cities that have multiple ring roads

Haven't watched the video yet but doesn't getting all the trucks trying to cut down off of 80 to hook up with 29 across the river from Nebraska City off the city streets serve a somewhat valuable purpose? I've been stuck in truck traffic on (former) Highway 2 through south Lincoln and it was not a fun time for anyone involved.

I think we can give it some credit for being more of a bypass than an actual ring / beltline. And not tearing down anything to be built, because it was built in the rural perimeter of South LNK.

But with Lincoln's current growth pattern, I think this will accelerate the problems while temporarily providing benefit.

I mean, look at the last ~30 years of development. It's taken that long to grow 2 miles to the south. Now developers have incentive to grow the next 2 in the next 10 years or so. "Right off the beltway!"

[buildomaha]

Thought some might enjoy this, Lincoln's beltway gets a shoutout.

I was just watching this video haha.

Same with me, I was watching this yesterday, small world. Love Not Just Bikes and Strong Towns.

It's funny how beltways are done with the intention of easing traffic, yet end up creating more traffic congestion, at least for those cities that have multiple ring roads

Haven't watched the video yet but doesn't getting all the trucks trying to cut down off of 80 to hook up with 29 across the river from Nebraska City off the city streets serve a somewhat valuable purpose? I've been stuck in truck traffic on (former) Highway 2 through south Lincoln and it was not a fun time for anyone involved.

I think we can give it some credit for being more of a bypass than an actual ring / beltline. And not tearing down anything to be built, because it was built in the rural perimeter of South LNK.

But with Lincoln's current growth pattern, I think this will accelerate the problems while temporarily providing benefit.

I mean, look at the last ~30 years of development. It's taken that long to grow 2 miles to the south. Now developers have incentive to grow the next 2 in the next 10 years or so. "Right off the beltway!"

The city of Lincoln has a lot more power in regulating development patterns in all of Lancaster county. They have growth boundary goals so that they can built out infrastructure before new housing is built on the fringe. That should help slow down some…