Nebraska: 168th Street Expansion Project

Gateway to Growth

Challenge: 168th Street is a modest, two-lane street in busy and growing southwest Omaha. When cars pull in and out of shopping centers, make U-turns or simply drive too slowly – the flow of traffic up and down the corridor crawls to a halt. Designed and built decades ago – the old street can’t handle today’s traffic. For over a decade – local officials have talked about updating this thoroughfare to accommodate the region’s growth.

The Solution: With help from the federal infrastructure law, the Gateway City is moving forward with a plan to update this important north-south corridor. As part of its Keep Omaha Moving campaign, the 168th Street Expansion Project will build a modern, four-lane road with medians, curbs, gutters, storm sewers, sidewalks, retaining walls, noise walls and traffic signals. The plan also calls for widening the bridge over Zorinsky Lake. For residents of southwest Omaha who rely on 168th Street to get to and from work, shopping and schools – a faster, safer, more reliable trip is just ahead..

What They’re Saying: “‘Anytime someone wants to make a left-hand turn, they stop traffic basically and traffic backs up for, I can’t say miles, but several hundred feet,’ said Ronald Salvary, who lives near 168th Street. ‘We’re carrying upwards of 20-25,000 cars through some of those intersections today,’ said deputy Director of Transportation Tom Pfitzer. ‘This project is overdue and we’re ready to get it done.’” (KETV 7 News, 05/11/2017)