Nebraska Roads

[tpabes]

I think it was called snowbird trail, but I have heard nothing more on it since it was proposed, so I thought it was dead. It was to go from Sioux City to Norfolk, down 81 to Columbus, then onto Grand Island on U.S. 30, south to Hastings on 281 then onto McCook on 6 +34 then into Kansas.

As for 81 when Nebraska has the money it will be expressway from Norfolk to Kansas border, with the only portion being yet to be done is from Columbus to York, the bypass around York was finished last year.

I totally see your development points, especially in Nebraska and South Dakota's metro areas. That is also why the I-80 corridor between Lincoln and Omaha is a hot issue. The point I will make is that in rural Nebraska and South Dakota it is generally a good thing to be near the interstate because of the $ it can bring and the transportation connection it can give to the major cities. The counties on or near the interstate tend to prospore or lose people at a lower rate. Now Omaha/Lincoln, Sioux Falls and the Black Hills will really need to smartly develop, because people want to move there. However, there is no mass migration to rural Nebraska/South Dakota. So I guess for people like Chris and I, we can see an expressway or interstate as an easier transportation route to cities (mass transit is a hard thing when you don't have people to support it) and a chance for rural areas to attract a few jobs that might keep some young people at home and generate some revenue for that area. But your warning is well heard and we are experiencing that in parts of our states.

[formeromaharesident]

Originally Posted by star_gazer

and it would have made no sense to put I-29 on the Nebraska side...

Sure it would have because of Omaha. They still could have built I-29 through Sioux City. As for Council Bluffs, it's 4 times smaller than Omaha. Why does Council Bluffs need I-29 more than Omaha? That makes no sense to me.

[tpabes]

Since this thread is back, the journal star had some neat articles today on U.S. 81

JournalStar.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - News - Local
JournalStar.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - News - Local
JournalStar.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - News - Local

[Chris19]

Very good articles, tpabes.

I agree that US 81 needs to get widened. I would like to see it get widened up to Yankton and then up to to Salem, SD or Mitchell, SD (using SD 50/37). At least widen US 81 between Columbus and York and complete NE 35 between Sioux City, IA and Norfolk, NE. I have been on US 81, the two lane portions a number of times and find it somewhat of a pain to drive on and a bit scary. It would cut time and improve travel during times when I travel to Colorado and Kansas if it were all four-laned.

Funding it is a challenge, but if there is a will there is a way. It is somewhat sad to see rest of Nebraska overlooked and neglected due to the major pull in Omaha and Lincoln. The state needs to invest in roads and economic development beyond Omaha and Lincoln.

[kallen101]

Originally Posted by Chris19

The state needs to invest in roads and economic development beyond Omaha and Lincoln.

Lincoln does not see near as much funding as omaha.

[Chris19]

That would not surprise me. Some in Nebraska's leadership need to realize that there are people beyond the Omaha metro.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by star_gazer

Funny, I've personally always found Nebraska's interstate roads to be in better shape than about every other state I've been to.

Compared with the roads in Illinois and points east, Nebraska's roads are in very good shape. My main experience in this direction is with the interstates except for Pennsylvania. I-95, the east coast highway, was in pretty decent shape, too, in Virginia when I was there last week (FWIW). But the interstates in Ill, Indiana, Ohio and PA are awful, or at least were the last I was there, which was just one year ago re: PA, and two years ago for the others. Ill and Ind are always working on the roads and they are never done!