Gov. Heineman and Mayor Stothert Announce Partnership to Accelerate Road Maintenance Projects

Press Release

Today, Gov. Dave Heineman and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert announced increased and accelerated maintenance projects on state highways in the Omaha metro area.

"Partnerships between the State of Nebraska and our cities are very important because that is the best way to serve our citizens," said Gov. Heineman. "In collaboration and cooperation with the City of Omaha, important highway repair work will be accelerated."

"We are grateful to the Governor for providing this money for road repair," said Mayor Stothert. "Omaha is decades behind on road maintenance and repairs. We will now be able to nearly double the number of projects we complete this year."

The Nebraska Department of Roads has identified certain highway maintenance projects that Omaha can help to restore. Over the last year, $21 million of cost savings has been created between engineers' original estimates and the actual bid prices on state highway construction projects. These funds will be allocated statewide for various maintenance projects. Under a funding-based partnership agreement with the City of Omaha, $6.4 million will be used to repair and maintain state highways through Omaha with the potential of an additional $6 million in fiscal year 2015, depending on project readiness.

Projects will begin this summer and are anticipated to be completed this year, weather permitting. These road projects include: U.S. Highway 6 (Dodge St.) from 52nd to Turner Blvd.; U.S. Highway 6 (Douglas St.) 9th to 24th St.; Nebraska Highway 64 (Maple St.) from 90th to 102nd St.; Nebraska Highway 64 (Cuming St.) 30th to 46th St.; U.S. Highway 75 (30th St.) Fort St. to Whitmore St.; U.S. Highway 75 (Mckinley St.) 30th to 48th St.; Nebraska Highway 85 (84th St.) Q St. to Harrison St.; U.S. Highway 275 (Industrial Rd.) eastbound 151st to 144th St.; U.S. Highway 275 (L St.) eastbound 131st to 126th St.; U.S. Highway 275 (L St.) I-80 to 108th St.; and U.S. Highway 275 (L St.) 33rd St. to Dahlman Ave.

"We are pleased to be able to expedite needed maintenance work in collaboration with the City of Omaha and across the state, and continue to work to provide safe roads throughout the state," said Randy Peters, Director of the Nebraska Department of Roads.

Maintenance projects account for approximately 20 percent of the Nebraska Department of Roads annual budget.

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