Project Access Qwest

[Coyote]

Creighton-area streets to change


Work is scheduled to start this week on street improvements tied to downtown redevelopment and Creighton University's expansion.

All of Burt Street and the rest of Cuming Street will be converted to two-way traffic.

One goal of the project is to provide better access on Cuming Street to the Qwest Center Omaha.

There will be periodic lane closures on Cuming Street during the next five months because of the project.

An alternate route suggested for North Freeway drivers who use Cuming Street to reach Eppley Airfield is the Storz Expressway exit. The Storz connects with Abbott Drive, which runs past the airport.

The project's total cost is $5 million. So far, $1 million in federal money has been secured to cover the cost, and additional federal dollars are being sought. Under its agreement with the city, Creighton is responsible for providing funding for the project not covered by grants.

The project involves:

• Moving the ramp that leads from 27th Avenue and Burt Streets to Interstate 480. A bridge will be built from Cuming Street over Burt and along the path of 27th Avenue to connect with the Interstate. The old on-ramp was short. Work on the new ramp started last fall.

• Reconfiguring the intersection of 30th and Cuming Streets. It now routes Cuming's eastbound traffic onto Burt there. It will be redesigned to keep eastbound traffic on Cuming.

• Widening Cuming from 24th Street to 30th Street.

• Making Cuming two-way from 27th Street to 30th Street. Cuming now runs only westbound there. The section of Cuming from 27th Street east to downtown switched to two-way traffic more than two years ago.

• Making Burt Street two-way from 30th Street to 16th Street.

Plan ahead

Here's what drivers will face on Cuming Street and 30th Street starting next week:
Starting Monday at 9 a.m., Cuming Street, between 24th and 29th Streets, will have lane restrictions because of a five-month street-improvement project.
Starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, the intersection of 30th and Cuming Streets will have these restrictions:
• No right turn eastbound.
• No left turns from any direction.
• One lane open eastbound.
• One lane open southbound.
• Two lanes open northbound.
• Two lanes open westbound.
These restrictions are for utility work and will last two weeks.