Basically the study identified the following preferred alternatives:
• 4-lane Expressway On Alignment (on Platteview)
• 4-lane Expressway On Alignment (South of Springfield)
I'm a bit disappointed because they aren't planning on making it a full freeway and I feel like this road could end up like 370. Although if planned right, they could always upgrade it later (seemingly after 2040).
The analysis of longer term needs showed that construction of a four-lane arterial with one quarter mile spacing of access points would provide for travel movement up through the year 2040 if the Heartland 2050 land use is adhered to. However, travel movements would be best accommodated with an expressway facility that would provide between one-half mile and mile access. The traffic analysis shows that facility types work. The analysis of development beyond the year 2040 reflected in the build out scenario showed that the expressway is the best alternative to accommodate travel into and out of this portion of Sarpy County.
Improvements to the corridor can be made in phases. Initially, the existing Platteview Road should be improved following the list of projects described in the short-term evaluation. Prior to the year 2040, a four-lane expressway should be provided with a southern bypass around Springfield.
Number of Lanes
As the short-term improvements are accomplished, Platteview Road will remain a two-lane facility. Long-term, the arterial and expressway sections would be constructed with four-lanes to approximately 192nd Street. The connection with I-80 would also be constructed as a four-lane facility. Right-of-way should be preserved in the interim period in order to minimize future cost of acquisition and ensure consistency of the surrounding future development.
Access Points
For both the arterial and expressway sections, access would be limited to existing roadways that connect with Platteview Road. Existing access by driveways and local streets would be maintained in the short-term. However, as areas develop, driveway and local access would be replaced by new connection to collector or arterial roads. In the long-term, signalized access would be provided at not less than one-half-mile intervals for the arterial and 1-mile intervals for the expressway. In locations with a denser street network – such as near Springfield – spacing closer than one-half mile between intersections may be permitted. Innovative access (such as the Michigan Left Turn) could be incorporated into the expressway design to improve traffic flow through intersections and provide additional access opportunities.
For the long-term buildout scenario, land for interchange locations should be identified and preserved at Highway N-50 and around I-80 in the 192nd Street to 180th Street area. It is recommended that at minimum, a 200-foot right-of-way be preserved around these locations. Additional study is needed to determine the ultimate location of a future connection with I-80.
Platteview Route.jpg
Sarpy County Land Use.jpg
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It's good to see they're putting some effort into provisioning for the future. I understand not building one now but if they didn't start ROWing I'd hate to see a built up Sarpy county without any major arteries past Cornhusker HWY. It looks Ike from the alignment it could be upgraded to a freeway but unfortunately it could never continue north to the West Dodge Expressway there's already too much development.
I currently live just 1/2 mile north of Platteview Rd near 36th St. It will really open the area up for future development once all this happens. Granted they also have to get the storm sewers and other infrastructure in place but that area will really take off once it does.
Basically the study identified the following preferred alternatives:
• 4-lane Expressway On Alignment (on Platteview)
• 4-lane Expressway On Alignment (South of Springfield)
I'm a bit disappointed because they aren't planning on making it a full freeway and I feel like this road could end up like 370. Although if planned right, they could always upgrade it later (seemingly after 2040).
The analysis of longer term needs showed that construction of a four-lane arterial with one quarter mile spacing of access points would provide for travel movement up through the year 2040 if the Heartland 2050 land use is adhered to. However, travel movements would be best accommodated with an expressway facility that would provide between one-half mile and mile access. The traffic analysis shows that facility types work. The analysis of development beyond the year 2040 reflected in the build out scenario showed that the expressway is the best alternative to accommodate travel into and out of this portion of Sarpy County.
Improvements to the corridor can be made in phases. Initially, the existing Platteview Road should be improved following the list of projects described in the short-term evaluation. Prior to the year 2040, a four-lane expressway should be provided with a southern bypass around Springfield.
Number of Lanes
As the short-term improvements are accomplished, Platteview Road will remain a two-lane facility. Long-term, the arterial and expressway sections would be constructed with four-lanes to approximately 192nd Street. The connection with I-80 would also be constructed as a four-lane facility. Right-of-way should be preserved in the interim period in order to minimize future cost of acquisition and ensure consistency of the surrounding future development.
Access Points
For both the arterial and expressway sections, access would be limited to existing roadways that connect with Platteview Road. Existing access by driveways and local streets would be maintained in the short-term. However, as areas develop, driveway and local access would be replaced by new connection to collector or arterial roads. In the long-term, signalized access would be provided at not less than one-half-mile intervals for the arterial and 1-mile intervals for the expressway. In locations with a denser street network – such as near Springfield – spacing closer than one-half mile between intersections may be permitted. Innovative access (such as the Michigan Left Turn) could be incorporated into the expressway design to improve traffic flow through intersections and provide additional access opportunities.
For the long-term buildout scenario, land for interchange locations should be identified and preserved at Highway N-50 and around I-80 in the 192nd Street to 180th Street area. It is recommended that at minimum, a 200-foot right-of-way be preserved around these locations. Additional study is needed to determine the ultimate location of a future connection with I-80.
Platteview Route.jpg
Sarpy County Land Use.jpg
When you said Platteview ending up like HWY 370, according to what I read Platteview will one day be considered the main road in southern sappy county.
Not much updates here, but the expressway project was mentioned today in the OWH article about the west Sarpy roads project wrapping up. They are still trying to figure out funding.
Steve Liewer / Omaha World Herald wrote:The county still has another major road project in its future. The Platteview Expressway would be a four-lane, limited-access road running from U.S. Highway 75 (Kennedy Freeway) west to Interstate 80 along Platteview Road, through Springfield.
A workshop was held on the project in 2015, and public hearings followed in 2020 and 2021, according to the county’s ConnectSarpy.com website. But the county is still studying funding options.
Good to see that, it is badly needed. With all the truck traffic on Platteview now, the road is deteriorating in some spots. And they just announced that they are putting in a stop sign on 36th st. Which is going to be crazy with all the amt of traffic on Platteview. I am sure that it is going to back up pretty badly. This road used to all be 55 mph but now in this spot and west of 84th they changed it to 45.
Glad they’re thinking ahead for this. They blew the 204th corridor off and now it’s too late. Not having an expressway through here would be a nightmare for future commuters.
Noticed an update for the Platteview Road expressway. They have renamed it to the South Sarpy Expressway and it does have funding for US-75 to 42nd Street. It is currently in final design and construction is supposed to start in 2026.
Design is also ongoing for 42nd to NE-50 and is expected to be completed in 2026.
Thanks for the heads up. Glad to hear they are moving along. I live so close to this and was wondering how far along they were. Great to hear they already have the funding for the first phase to 42nd st. I am excited bc this should align the road a little more to the south of where it is currently and maybe reduce some traffic noise into the neighborhood I live in.
skinzfan23 wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 10:55 pm
Thanks for the heads up. Glad to hear they are moving along. I live so close to this and was wondering how far along they were. Great to hear they already have the funding for the first phase to 42nd st. I am excited bc this should align the road a little more to the south of where it is currently and maybe reduce some traffic noise into the neighborhood I live in.
Here is the anticipated alignment, not sure how locked in it is though.
skinzfan23 wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 10:55 pm
Thanks for the heads up. Glad to hear they are moving along. I live so close to this and was wondering how far along they were. Great to hear they already have the funding for the first phase to 42nd st. I am excited bc this should align the road a little more to the south of where it is currently and maybe reduce some traffic noise into the neighborhood I live in.
Here is the anticipated alignment, not sure how locked in it is though.
Yes, that is the most recent route that I saw too, it starts a little further to the south of the current highway, but then goes to the north of the current highway.
I hope that the intersection between NE50 and the SSE includes a dedicated right-of-way for the Mopac. NE50 in Sarpy County is my favorite local highway to cycle on due to the wide shoulders, lesser traffic, and generally competent drivers. The expressway will definitely change that.
I did see some details about the first phase including a sidewalk:
The expressway from US-75 to 42nd Street will include a sidewalk and trail on 36th Street, and any existing trails that are impacted will be rebuilt. The current design would also accommodate future pedestrian and bicycle needs.
Anyone in the know on what the preferred routing is around Springfield and where they are wanting to connect to I-80?
Seems like that decision is what is up in the air. The routing from 75 to Platteview High School seems decided.
My read is they now want to by-pass Springfield to the south and follow Pflug Rd to I-80? Originally I thought the plan was to bypass Springfield to the north & connect at 168th.
Bigger picture, what is the goal of the expressway? Is it to help I-80 travelers by-pass Omaha traffic and connect Sarpy residents with Lincoln & I-29? In my mind, connecting at 168th would have served as more of a beltway...connecting Sarpy & West Omaha residents. Now, it seems the expressway is more explicitly serving Sarpy residents and I-80 travelers and functioning less as a beltway for the greater metro. Wondering what peoples' thoughts are and if anyone knows what planners are thinking.
Given that this is billed as the "South Sarpy Expressway" and doesn't seem to have any greater coordination with NDOT beyond the county, it's aim is to serve Sarpy and not be an explicit south arm of a comprehensive beltway system. The map on the website seems to indicate it would connect to I-80 in the general area of the old NebraSki between the Platte River bridge and the Holy Family Shrine.
To answer most of your questions though, you need not look any further than the opening paragraphs of their website that Bross linked a few posts up:
Sarpy County wrote:Sarpy County is taking an important step toward providing a well-thought-out and connected east-west corridor from U.S. 75 to Interstate 80. As the fastest growing county in the state, Sarpy County is proactively planning for increased traffic demands. To balance economic benefits with projected traffic volumes, this modern corridor will efficiently move people and goods through southern Sarpy County.
Benefits of the South Sarpy Expressway, formerly known as the Platteview Road Expressway:
Improved east-west connectivity and efficient traffic movement in southern Sarpy County
Increased capacity for traffic volumes by implementing new alignment and access controls, and widening the 2-lane highway to an ultimate 4-lane expressway
Enhanced mobility for people and goods
almighty_tuna wrote: Wed Feb 19, 2025 9:59 am
Welcome to the forum!
Given that this is billed as the "South Sarpy Expressway" and doesn't seem to have any greater coordination with NDOT beyond the county, it's aim is to serve Sarpy and not be an explicit south arm of a comprehensive beltway system. The map on the website seems to indicate it would connect to I-80 in the general area of the old NebraSki between the Platte River bridge and the Holy Family Shrine.
To answer most of your questions though, you need not look any further than the opening paragraphs of their website that Bross linked a few posts up:
Sarpy County wrote:Sarpy County is taking an important step toward providing a well-thought-out and connected east-west corridor from U.S. 75 to Interstate 80. As the fastest growing county in the state, Sarpy County is proactively planning for increased traffic demands. To balance economic benefits with projected traffic volumes, this modern corridor will efficiently move people and goods through southern Sarpy County.
Benefits of the South Sarpy Expressway, formerly known as the Platteview Road Expressway:
Improved east-west connectivity and efficient traffic movement in southern Sarpy County
Increased capacity for traffic volumes by implementing new alignment and access controls, and widening the 2-lane highway to an ultimate 4-lane expressway
Enhanced mobility for people and goods
While we are talking about beltways, I'm in disbelief that douglas county/NDOT passed up on the opportunity to make 204th from Elkhorn to Gretna a proper freeway. The quickest way for northwest omaha to reach I-80 is to either take a 20 minute drive down 156th-204th street or drive 15 minutes east/south to I-680 or dodge.
Maybe not great for urban renewal, but I live right next to this and can tell you that Platteview Rd in its current form/state is not capable for handling the traffic it is getting. Ever since the Hwy 34 bridge was completed, there has been a huge increase in the amount of truck traffic. During rush hour times when more auto traffic is also on the road, it can be very dangerous. The road currently has quite a few turns and is in poor condition as well. They have spot fixed some of it but for the amount of traffic something needs to be done. They installed a 4-way stop at 36th and Platteview b/c of numerous accidents that have happened there. With the proposed Goodlife District coming on in Bellevue, the capacity for the road is going to be pushed even further.
skinzfan23 wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 11:36 am
Maybe not great for urban renewal, but I live right next to this and can tell you that Platteview Rd in its current form/state is not capable for handling the traffic it is getting. Ever since the Hwy 34 bridge was completed, there has been a huge increase in the amount of truck traffic. During rush hour times when more auto traffic is also on the road, it can be very dangerous.
And thus the crux of chasing the problems of overused car infrastructure with the Band-Aids of ever more car infrastructure.
Honestly it seems like a great place to draw a line and say "We learned our lesson" and add to the boulevard system.
almighty_tuna wrote: Wed Feb 19, 2025 9:59 am
Given that this is billed as the "South Sarpy Expressway" and doesn't seem to have any greater coordination with NDOT beyond the county, it's aim is to serve Sarpy and not be an explicit south arm of a comprehensive beltway system. The map on the website seems to indicate it would connect to I-80 in the general area of the old NebraSki between the Platte River bridge and the Holy Family Shrine.
The real beltway is NE-2 from Lincoln to Neb City :-)
MTO wrote: Sun Nov 03, 2024 7:24 pm
Glad they’re thinking ahead for this. They blew the 204th corridor off and now it’s too late. Not having an expressway through here would be a nightmare for future commuters.
They've ruined the 204th Corridor. They should have copied the rules that were put into place like on Hwy 370, which is only 1 light every 1/2 mile (6 blocks) and keeping 55mph.
MTO wrote: Sun Nov 03, 2024 7:24 pm
Glad they’re thinking ahead for this. They blew the 204th corridor off and now it’s too late. Not having an expressway through here would be a nightmare for future commuters.
They've ruined the 204th Corridor. They should have copied the rules that were put into place like on Hwy 370, which is only 1 light every 1/2 mile (6 blocks) and keeping 55mph.
204th Street sucks to drive on. It seems like less than 10 years ago you could actually take it from Gretna or even Harrison St to Dodge St quickly. Had to take my wife to the Ortho place a couple of weeks ago and took about 15 mins to get from Giles to roughly Center. May not seem like much, but it's all the lights that create the delays. And during rush hour it's terrible. Obviously once you get into Elkhorn (north of Dodge) it gets worse - I don't feel the magic roundabout in front of Menards is going to fix people turning west off of 204th.
204th is almost like driving on Dodge St now, but with only two lanes each direction. Sure, it's posted as 55MPH, but good luck getting up to that for any decent amount of time.
Yeah think this was one of those clickbait stories.
Only thing I saw that was maybe new is the amt allocated for the expressway for the next 6 years is $113 Million. But it does sound like they intend to start construction in 2026. The Hwy 75 to 42nd St. segment is expected to be around $100 Million of the $113 Million.
skinzfan23 wrote: Thu Aug 21, 2025 4:08 pm
Yeah think this was one of those clickbait stories.
Very much so. The story handful of anemic sentences itself was lazy af - they grabbed a tiny slide screenshot showing the intended path across Sarpy County for the completed expressway and didn't even bother to put in context the project as a whole. If you just took the article at face value one would think it's some tiny 32 block freeway, not the first and arguably most complicated section of the expressway that will connect US75 (and really all the way east to I-29 via US34) and I-80.
I'm sure some intern or someone was just cruising the local planning departments for anything that would make a decent headline. The meeting on the 19th was just the public hearing and approval of the 1 & 6yr road plan. Nothing was "released" as the author stated. Just lazy. I've learned not to expect more, but it's sad the bar is so low.
almighty_tuna wrote: Thu Aug 21, 2025 4:56 pm
I'm sure some intern or someone was just cruising the local planning departments for anything that would make a decent headline. The meeting on the 19th was just the public hearing and approval of the 1 & 6yr road plan. Nothing was "released" as the author stated. Just lazy. I've learned not to expect more, but it's sad the bar is so low.
I'm sure that's what happened. They saw it in the latest plan that just had a public hearing and thought it was a new thing.
I first started this thread in 2016 and posted about it starting construction next year back in January.
One thing I do see that they failed to post (instead posting an image with barely any details) is a new preliminary layout with additional exits I hadn't seen before and some of the earlier ones reworked. It's also showing it eventually connecting up to I-80 at Pflug Rd (which has been considered for an interchange over the years).
Soth Sarpy Expressway.JPG
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Ya know, as much as I like it from an engineering standpoint, it doesnt really feel like itll be effective.
I think looking back, they really missed on 370. It should have been this Sarpy Expressway. I think at one time a long time ago, it was planned to be so, but the development caught up to it too quickly.
I think it has the ability to divert some traffic away from the highways like 370, especially for those going to Lincoln, but I'm probably biased. I live on Fairview and I have to choose either going North to 370 or winding my way through smaller roads and highways to get to I-80 out in Gretna.
I drive that Platteview Rd area quite a bit and I'm still wondering how it will all work. It's hard to picture an expressway through there as there are houses around 36th St. But, I now see that it will have to detour around Springfield. It looks really complicated around 25th through 36th St, and I'm sure that's due to the existing houses.
