I-80 Six Lane Expansion Lincoln to Omaha

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Project Contacts:
Terry Gibson, NDOR Interstate Design Section Leader, 402-479-4565
Brian Johnson, NDOR Interstate Design Unit Leader, 402-479-3990
Jeff Johnston, NDOR Interstate Design Unit Leader, 402-479-4731

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Narrative updated April 2009

Proposed Construction: (updated 4-2009) The existing four lane interstate facility between Lincoln and Omaha will be expanded to six lanes. The work will be split into eight projects starting west of Lincoln at the NW 56th Street overhead structure to the west side of Omaha at the N-370 Interchange. The proposed improvements will include:

• Increasing capacity of I-80.
• Reconstructing pavement with some nearly 40 years old.
• Improving median widths to provide safer typical.
• 12’ wide inside and outside paved shoulders.
• Improved horizontal & vertical alignments.
• Flatter side slopes providing safer recovery area for errant vehicles.
• Overhead structures changed to two span bridges, widened, and sight distance improved. MSE walls will be used to reduce I-80 obstacles.

Lincoln to Omaha encompasses the following:

• 44 miles long

• 11 Interchanges

• 2 Weigh Station Facilities

• 3 Rest Areas

• 23 Bridges over I-80

• 41 Mainline Bridges

Related Studies: (updated 6-3-2005) There are three median types for the proposed six lane: The first two are a 76’ and 88' median with a depressed grass median. The third type is a 28' paved median with a concrete barrier rail separating the traffic.

Phasing: Work shall be done under traffic with 2 lanes of traffic available throughout the entire construction.

• The first phase of the 88' median will construct two lanes and a shoulder without affecting traffic.

• The second phase will switch the traffic onto the new pavement and build the inside lane and shoulder.

• The final phase will place traffic head-to-head on the new pavement and build the other side.

The 28' median will build temporary pavement on the first phase, which will allow the traffic to be placed head-to-head. The other side will then be completely constructed. Traffic will be switched to the new pavement and allow the construction of the remaining pavement.

Schedule: (updated 3-2007) The first project segment, Ruff Road to N370, was started in 2003 and completed by the end of 2005. Work on a project segment in the Lincoln area, US77 South to the I-180 Interchange, began in 2004, and was completed by the end of 2007.

The Department, in 2005, let the project for the I-80 segment from Mahoney Interchange to Ruff Road. This project should be completed in 2008.

The final I-80 segment, 56th Street Interchange to the Waverly Interchange, may be built in 2011-2013. However, if current funding levels do not increase, this project will move to 2013-2015. This would mean that the entire six-lane expansion from Lincoln to Omaha will not be completed by 2013, but would be extended to 2015.

Estimated Cost: The cumulative projects from NW 48th Street Interchange to N-370 will cost $440 million (2009 dollars).