North 98th Street between Bluff Road and Interstate 80 has reopened after a major bridge and culvert replacement project in Lancaster County. County Engineer Pamela Dingman marked the reopening Tuesday afternoon at County Bridge G-222 over Salt Creek.
The original bridge was built in 1948 and had been retrofitted several times to handle changes in the waterway and increasing traffic, including heavy equipment. Because of its age and deteriorating condition, Dingman says the bridge was rated in poor condition and placed on the county’s replacement list.
The project was made possible in part by $500,000 in County Bridge Match Funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation. The county also replaced nearby culverts . Two of them were washed out during storm-related flooding in July 2024.
Lancaster County says combining the bridge and culvert replacements saved taxpayer money. JMN Construction began work last August and completed the project on time and on budget. The new G-222 is a 310-foot, three-span prestressed concrete girder bridge with a 30-foot-wide roadway, six feet wider than the previous bridge.
The bridge and three culverts cost less than $3.1 million and are expected to serve the county for at least 70 years.
(Photos: Lancaster County Engineer)