Interstate 80

[Coyote]

Leaders celebrate Nebraska’s ongoing Interstate 80 expansion as economic boon

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and other state leaders Monday celebrated the ongoing Interstate 80 expansion between Lincoln and Pleasant Dale as an economic boon. Vicki Kramer, director of the Nebraska Department of Transportation, said the three-year I-80 project, which began earlier this month, includes expanding from two lanes in each direction to three. The project has been in the works for decades and is designed to increase mobility. It is the largest planned transportation project for the 2024 construction season. “If anybody’s coming in from Grand Island, they know how difficult it gets the closer you get to Lincoln — the congestion, the truck traffic — it gets dangerous,” Kramer said. “Safety is of the utmost importance to us, and it will be the main component of this project.”

In addition to lane expansion, the project will include other Interstate and rest area improvements at the US-6 and 192nd Street interchange and the West Dodge Road interchange in Omaha as well as a new roundabout at Highway 77 near Wahoo. Kramer said work on the first 17 or so miles of the project is already underway. Pillen said Nebraskans all agree on former President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s vision of interstate commerce, which “was extraordinary and transformed our country of economic vitality.” In 1974, after 17 years of construction, Nebraska became the first state to complete its portion of I-80 from east to west, Pillen noted: a 455-mile stretch of road at a cost of $435 million.

[ita]

https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/tjdm1the ... -grant.pdf

Here's the grant submission for federal funds. The total project consists of about 15 miles of total roadway, 7.6 each way. Total project cost is estimated at $130 million.

[Coyote]

State leaders discuss I-80 expansion near Lincoln

[FishFighter92]

https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/tjdm1the ... -grant.pdf

Here's the grant submission for federal funds. The total project consists of about 15 miles of total roadway, 7.6 each way. Total project cost is estimated at $130 million.

Somehow I missed the "7.6 each way" in the story and video. I was assuming (hoping) it was 15 miles each way. Oh well, I'll take what I can get. It is appreciated.

[Louie]

Does this stretch of interstate back up typically? It appears to really only serve a few small communities in that stretch. I've never seen non-accident related traffic while on it.

[almighty_tuna]

I think it's part of a broader long term strategy to bring I80 to six lanes all the way to GI. Though, I'm not hating on giving more elbow room with all the truck traffic on that stretch.

[Brad]

I think it's part of a broader long term strategy to bring I80 to six lanes all the way to GI. Though, I'm not hating on giving more elbow room with all the truck traffic on that stretch.

I said in one of the other threads about widening I80 to Grand Island that the stretch from Lincoln to Seward is already long over due. I'm not sure if its the hills or what, that stretch always gets jammed up.