The Lancaster County Engineering Department announced Tuesday $5.3 million in Highway Safety Improvement Program funding and $3.9 million in Lincoln Metropolitan planning organization funding for the South 68th Street from stagecoach Road To Firth Road project.
The $9.2 million in funding, along with $1 million from the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners will go a long way in funding the $10.8 million project.
Lancaster County Engineer Pam Dingman told KLIN News, “We started studying this corridor about four years ago. We have known for a while that improving this corridor will be very expensive. It is estimated now at $10.8 million. Lancaster County to date has not constructed a project over $10 million so I am excited to have the opportunity to improve this major corridor. We are excited to have the opportunity to create a safer corridor for Lancaster County.”
Dingman says there are a number of required reviews to do before they receive the federal funding. Nebraska Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are Lancaster County’s partners in roadside safety. Work continues to complete the plans for the corridor.
The 68th Street corridor is home to the Norris School District’s Campus. South 68th Street has, many school permit drivers and increased traffic with local growth. This has created many dangerous situations for young drivers and others in this busy corridor. The Norris School District and the traveling public have continued to request that improvements be made to this very important corridor in Lancaster County.
Lancaster County Engineering Department expects that construction could start as early as 2025.