Omaha, Nebraska – Omaha residents have been increasingly feeling the pressure on their city’s streets. The maze of road constructions and lane closures, particularly along Dodge Street during peak hours, is testing the patience of many. Yet, for some, these inconveniences are just a necessary step towards progress.
Major Routes and the Construction Onslaught
Dodge Street is at the epicenter of this construction boom. Brenda Villarraeo, a local, humorously expressed her maneuvers, “I will literally leave through the back ends of Lowes just to avoid Dodge Street. I would go pretty far.”
The developments at 72nd and Dodge are particularly significant, with Crossroads being redeveloped, nearby roads being widened, and the infrastructure receiving much-needed improvements. Moreover, the section near 39th and Dodge has had a lane closure for nearly a year due to the construction of a new apartment building. A recent closure of an additional lane was initiated to facilitate crane operations by Lueder Construction. Thankfully, this lane is set to reopen on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023, beating expectations by almost two weeks.
Venturing further, there are more closures. The area around Farnam and 48th streets is inaccessible because of the expansion activities of the Nebraska Medical Center. Furthermore, lanes near the Mutual of Omaha construction site downtown are projected to remain closed for an extended period.
Safety First
Omaha City Engineer, Austin Rowser, highlighted the rationale behind these disruptions, emphasizing the paramount importance of safety. “There’s a hazard for the driver, there’s a hazard there for the worker…,” Rowser noted. He assured residents that all lane closures and extensions are carefully reviewed and approved by the city. Moreover, private developers bear financial responsibilities, paying fees for lane closures, thus providing an incentive to expedite their work.
For some, like Villarraeo, these road disruptions, although inconvenient, are seen in a positive light. She views it as the necessary “price of progress,” remarking, “I don’t mind the construction at all. Everybody has a job.” It’s a perspective that sheds light on the silver lining amidst the construction chaos: a booming and evolving cityscape.
