Federal Highway Bill Priorities

The federal Highway Bill helps fund major transportation projects across the United States. It invests federal dollars, typically supplemented with local and state support, to build and maintain roadways of significant regional and national use. Lawmakers prioritize such projects within their jurisdictions to submit for consideration as the Highway Bill begins the legislative process.

In making such requests, my office seeks to use taxpayer dollars prudently considering cost-benefit analyses as well as community and state support. Public safety improvements are also a primary consideration. For your review, the following is a list of the First District transportation projects I have submitted for consideration as part of the 2009 Highway Bill.

• Nebraska Highway 35 -- $27,200,000
  
  The intent of this project in northeast Nebraska is to develop the most efficient route from Norfolk to South Sioux City. Currently, this route is comprised of several short segments of highway winding its way to the northeast. This project has significant regional and national importance. It would provide significant safety, congestion mitigation, and economic development benefits. The Nebraska Department of Roads classified the Highway 35 project as a planned expressway. This request would fund a ten-mile segment of the project.
   
• Lincoln South Beltway -- $20,779,000
  
  The South Beltway is a vital component of Lincoln, Nebraska’s long-range transportation plans. It would provide an important solution to the challenge of highway traffic congestion. Currently substantial truck traffic results from the State Highway 2 Expressway connection to Interstate I-29, impacting the southern portion of Nebraska's capital city. Redirection of through traffic, especially trucks, to the new beltway will reduce accidents on existing Highway 2 in Lincoln and improve traffic flow through and in the Lincoln metropolitan area, including freight traffic.
   
• Antelope Valley (Lincoln) -- $12,976,000
  
  The Antelope Valley project is an ambitious downtown redevelopment project that is a partnership between the City of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska, and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District. The transportation component of the project involves a series of new roadways and overpasses that will reduce congestion in downtown Lincoln and improve traffic flow in and around the university and neighborhoods. In order to keep project costs in check and reduce the construction burden on residents, the City is intent on building the flood control and transportation components of this project simultaneously and is seeking federal assistance to supplement the significant local contribution to the project.
   
• Gretna East -- 20,847,000
  
  The Gretna East project is a 4.1 mile improvement of Nebraska Highway 370 in Sarpy County beginning at Highways 6 and 31 in Gretna and proceeding east to I-80.  The project would completely reconstruct the existing two lane rural roadway to a new modern four lane suburban-type facility with turn lanes.  Highway 370 is the major east-west link from Gretna to I-80 passing through a rapidly developing area.  The highway currently carries around 10,000 vehicles per day, and is projected to carry around 20,000 vehicles per day in 20 years.
   
• Rulo Bridge -- $6,366,000
  
  This project would replace the existing narrow 20 foot wide bridge that was built in 1939. The current bridge is structurally deficient and features sharp curves on both approaches. The proposed modern bridge features new approach road alignments. The project addresses significant safety concerns and would facilitate unimpeded two-way traffic, including truck traffic, in the Nebraska-Missouri-Kansas corner area. It would also improve connectivity with nearby I-29 in Missouri.
   
• Blair Bypass -- $5,600,000
  
  The Blair, Nebraska, Bypass would help alleviate dangerous truck traffic and congestion concerns caused by the intersection of two Federal highways in downtown Blair. A three-phase project, this request involves the bypass’s first segment, which has the highest cost-benefit value. This segment would allow trucks that utilize either Highway 30 or Highway 75 to cross over between the highway segments without running through the city’s downtown area. By significantly reducing the truck and car traffic currently using these Federal highways, both motorists and pedestrians will be better protected.
   
• I-80 Expansion (56th Street in Lincoln-Waverly) -- $36,470,000
  
  I-80 is a major transcontinental route for the movement of people and goods, connecting to other east-west and north-south Interstate routes. Between, through, and around Omaha and Lincoln, it also serves heavy commuter and regional traffic. The increased capacity will benefit the national and regional economies by improving traffic flow, reducing congestion and enhancing safety. This request would fund a segment reconstructing I-80 to six lanes and reconstructing associated bridges from east of 56th Street in Lincoln to the Waverly Interchange.