Sometime Friday, without fanfare, the first car will head west from U.S. 275 just south of Fremont on a brand-new strip of asphalt that is nearly two decades — and $62 million — in the making.
Weather permitting, Nebraska Department of Transportation engineers will open up the first section of the new Fremont Southeast Beltway. When it fully opens in July, the 3.2-mile stretch of road will connect U.S. 275 to U.S. 77, which bisects Fremont from north to south. It’s expected to carry 11,000 vehicles per day.
The new road will open up access to a large industrial zone along the city’s southeast border that is anchored by Lincoln Premium Poultry, the large supplier of chicken to Costco stores.
“It’s a great project for Fremont,” said Mayor Joey Spellerberg. “I’m excited to be able to cut the ribbon and open it.”
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Spellerberg was still a student at Fremont’s Archbishop Bergan High School in 2006, when city officials first pitched the idea of a southeast beltway to NDOT and the State Legislature.
It took a full decade for the beltway to win funding in the second round of Build Nebraska Act expressway projects, first funded in 2011 with a ¼-cent surcharge in the state sales tax. Transportation planners scheduled the project for construction in 2024, with local city and county officials required to come up with $20 million of the projected $43 million cost of the project.
The beltway got fast-tracked in 2018, after Costco decided to locate its large chicken plant along the route. The $450 million campus was slated to employ 800 workers and process about 100 million chickens a year, enough to supply about one-third of Costco’s demand for fresh and roasted chicken.
“It’s been in the books for awhile as a ‘wish-we-had’ sort of thing,” Barbara Gerbino-Bevins, NDOT’s district traffic engineer, said of the project. “I believe the construction of the chicken plant pushed it over the line.”
The cost also jumped, to more than $60 million, including an additional local match of $10 million on top of $20 million already raised locally. The City of Fremont, Dodge County and several local businesses chipped in to keep the project on track, Spellerberg said. Construction began in 2020.
“It was a public-private partnership to get to this point,” he said.
For the city, a major goal was to move truck traffic off of Broad Street, Fremont’s main north-south thoroughfare running through the heart of its commercial district. Within the city limits, it also is designated as U.S. 77.
That designation will now move to the new beltway, and the city will take over control and maintenance of one of its major avenues.
“We’ll be able to go into Broad Street and make a lot of improvements,” Spellerberg said.
The beltway will have no traffic lights, but it will have two circular roundabouts at Downing Street and Main Street near the Platte River bridge, as well as “teardrop” roundabouts at U.S. 275.
It is the eastern half of the beltway — from U.S. 275 to Downing — that will open Friday. The opening was delayed from last week to avoid a conflict with a series of lane and ramp closures along U.S. 275 in Fremont, Gerbino-Bevins said.
The middle section will open next, and the western tie-in with U.S. 77 last. The formal ribbon-cutting is scheduled for July 6.
For Spellerberg, the opening can’t happen quickly enough. It dovetails with the announcement in February that 1,500 acres along the route was designated as the state’s first Inland Port Authority because of its proximity to transportation networks.
“It’s going to be a hub for industrial development,” Spellerberg said. “The infrastructure around our area is a huge plus. Fremont’s becoming a desirable place to locate.”
The view from the South Beltway ramp onto southbound U.S. 77 near Saltillo Road.
Photos, videos: Building the South Beltway
South Beltway Ceremony
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Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts waves as he departs the opening ceremony to ride along the new Lincoln South Beltway on Wednesday.
South Beltway Ceremony
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Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and other officials give brief remarks during an opening ceremony for the new South Beltway on Wednesday.
South Beltway Ceremony
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A Bennet fire truck drives onto the Lincoln South Beltway following an opening ceremony on Wednesday.
South Beltway Ceremony
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Minutes after Wednesday’s opening ceremony, a car enters the South Beltway via U.S. 77.
South Beltway Ceremony
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John Selmer, director of Nebraska’s Department of Transportation, speaks at the opening ceremony for the Lincoln South Beltway.
South Beltway Ceremony
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Gov. Pete Ricketts holds a commemorative plaque presented to government officials during an opening ceremony for the new Lincoln South Beltway on Wednesday.
South Beltway Ceremony
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Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird addresses those in attendance during an opening ceremony for the new South Beltway on Wednesday.
South Beltway Ceremony
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Lincoln mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird (center) addresses a crowd of workers and dignitaries during an opening ceremony for the new beltway on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Lincoln South Beltway in Lincoln.
South Beltway Ceremony
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Lincoln mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird listens to opening statements by governor Ricketts during an opening ceremony for the new beltway on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Lincoln South Beltway in Lincoln.
South Beltway Ceremony
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Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts speaks during an opening ceremony for the new beltway on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Lincoln South Beltway in Lincoln.
South Beltway Ceremony
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Nebraska state Sen. Suzanne Geist is seen in the crowd during an opening ceremony for the new Lincoln South Beltway on Wednesday.
South Beltway Ceremony
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Chris Hawkins remarks on the hard work put in by Hawkins Construction employees to complete the South Beltway project months ahead of schedule.
South Beltway
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This fall, volunteers with the Bennet and Hickman fire departments worked with other agencies, including StarCare, to prepare to respond to incidents on the new South Beltway. “This is a different character of traffic than what we are used to working with,” said Art Robertson, the acting chief of Hickman Rural Fire and Rescue.
South Beltway
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This fall, volunteers with the Bennet and Hickman rural fire departments worked with other agencies, including StarCare, to prepare to respond to incidents on the new South Beltway. “This is a different character of traffic than what we are used to working with,” said Art Robertson, the acting chief of Hickman Rural Fire and Rescue.
South Beltway DRONE
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A portion of Lincoln’s new South Beltway intersection with U.S. 77 is photographed by a drone, just outside on Lincoln city limits on Dec. 3. The South beltway is set to open Dec. 14, six months earlier than expected. The 11 mile freeway is one of the city’s largest construction projects to date.
South Beltway DRONE
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A portion of Lincoln’s new South Beltway intersection with U.S. 77 is photographed by a drone, just outside on Lincoln city limits on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. The South Beltway is currently set to open Dec. 14, which is six months earlier than expected. The 11-mile freeway is one of the city’s largest construction projects to date.
Beltway map: U.S. 77 interchange
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Officials constructed an elaborate interchange where the beltway intersects with U.S. 77 and Saltillo Road. Included is a nearly half-mile ramp for traffic headed south toward Beatrice.
South Beltway DRONE
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A portion of Lincoln’s new South Beltway intersection with U.S. 77 is photographed by a drone, just outside on Lincoln city limits on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.
South Beltway DRONE
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A portion of Lincoln’s new South Beltway intersection with U.S. 77 is photographed by a drone, just outside on Lincoln city limits on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.
South Beltway DRONE
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Cars and trucks traveling on the new South Beltway will flow directly onto U.S. 77 at the west interchange that also connects to Saltillo Road. The new four-lane expressway is to open Wednesday.
South Beltway12.2
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Construction crews continue to work on Lincoln’s South Beltway, which is set to open in the coming weeks, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at South 68th Street Bridge in Lincoln.
South Beltway12.2
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Construction crews are wrapping up work on the South Beltway, which is expected to open to traffic Dec. 14.
South Beltway12.2
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Lincoln’s South Beltway will open Dec. 14. Construction on the long-anticipated 11-mile freeway linking U.S. 77 and Nebraska 2 began in 2020.
South Beltway12.2
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Construction crews continue to work on Lincoln’s South Beltway, which is set to open in the coming weeks, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at South 68th Street Bridge in Lincoln.
South Beltway update
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On the west end of the 11-mile project, crews are connecting the South Beltway with U.S. 77.
South Beltway update
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With the recently completed Saltillo Road bridge in the distance, work continues on the new southbound lanes of U.S. 77 on Wednesday.
South Beltway update
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Nearly a half-mile long, the flyover bridge will carry westbound beltway traffic onto southbound U.S. 77.
South Beltway update
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The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway has nearly a half-mile of steel beams.
South Beltway update
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The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway has steel beams laid the entire west to east distance on Wednesday.
South Beltway update
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The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway has steel beams laid the entire west to east distance.
South Beltway update
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Work continues on South Beltway bridges that cross South 25th Street, Salt Creek, the Jamaica North Trail and railroad tracks.
South Beltway update
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The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway has steel beams laid the entire west to east distance on Wednesday.
South Beltway update
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Curt Mueting, district construction engineer for the state of Nebraska, shows some of the printed South Beltway plans on Wednesday,.
South Beltway update
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Projects like the South Beltway helped to keep the construction sector growing since the onset of the pandemic.
Progress – South Beltway, 2.14
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LINCOLN, NEB. – 02/14/2022 – The construction of an interchange connecting South Beltway with Nebraska Highway 2 is seen in this photo taken on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Progress – South Beltway, 2.14
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Work continues to build an interchange at the east end of the new South Beltway this month. Developers point to the area where the current Nebraska 2 intersects with the beltway as a magnet for residential and business growth, but city leaders say expansion in that area is still years away.
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Lincoln, NE – 5/12/2021 – The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway stretches to the southwest as construction work continues on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
South Beltway construction
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Construction continues on the South Beltway at the future 82nd Street interchange in November.
South Beltway construction
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Construction continues on the South Beltway on the east side of U.S. 77 on Nov. 17. Business representatives have hailed the impact that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill could have in Nebraska to repair highways and bridges.
South Beltway construction
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Construction continues on the South Beltway southwest of 98th Street on Nov. 17. Business representatives have hailed the impact that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill could have in Nebraska to repair highways and bridges.
South Beltway construction
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Construction continues on the South Beltway on the east side of U.S. 77 on Nov. 17. Nebraska set another record for low unemployment for the month.
South Beltway 68th Street, 7.21
Construction of the South Beltway proceeds in this photo from South 68th Street looking east on Wednesday.
South Beltway 68th Street, 7.21
The 68th Street interchange will initally be the only access point open in the middle of the South Beltway. Construction to complete interchanges at Jamaica Avenue and 82nd Street is expected to wrap up next year.
South Beltway 68th Street, 7.21
A new 68th Street bridge spans the South Beltway.
South Beltway 68th Street, 7.21
A new 68th Street bridge spans the South Beltway.
South Beltway 68th Street, 7.21
Construction of the South Beltway is seen in this photo taken from South 54th Street looking east on July 21.
South Beltway 68th Street, 7.21
Construction of the South Beltway is seen in this photo taken from South 68th Street looking west on Wednesday, July 21, 2021.
South Beltway 68th Street, 7.21
South 68th Street from Saltillo Road to Bennet Road reopened for traffic on Wednesday.
South Beltway 68th Street, 7.21
The new 68th Street bridge spans the South Beltway.
Saltillo Road bridge
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Lincoln, NE – 6/29/2021 – Construction traffic crosses the South Beltway on the newly completed Saltillo Road bridge between South 96th and South 98th Streets on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Saltillo Road bridge
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Construction traffic crosses the newly completed Saltillo Road bridge over the South Beltway on Tuesday. The bridge is to open Wednesday, allowing traffic to connect to South 96th and South 98th streets.
Girder movement, 5.18
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Oversized South Beltway bridge girders are being moved in this photo taken from the Mopac Trail bridge over North 27th Street on May 18.
Girder movement, 5.18
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Semis shuttle bridge girders down North 27th Street on Tuesday afternoon on a trip across town. The girders will be used for bridge construction on the South Beltway.
South Beltway construction
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Lincoln, NE – 5/12/2021 – Construction work continues on the flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
South Beltway construction
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Lincoln, NE – 5/12/2021 – The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway stretches to the southwest as construction work continues on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
South Beltway construction
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Lincoln, NE – 5/12/2021 – An overpass carries Saltillo Road over the South Beltway on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
South Beltway
The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway stretches to the southwest as construction work continues on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
South Beltway construction
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The South Beltway is taking shape just west of South 68th Street.
South Beltway construction
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The 2,245-foot flyover bridge that will carry drivers west on Nebraska 2 to south on U.S. 77.
South Beltway construction
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The “most complicated” piece of the South Beltway, the flyover bridge, will connect westbound Nebraska 2 travelers with U.S. 77 south.
South Beltway construction
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The Saltillo Road overpass over the South Beltway on the east edge of Lincoln is nearly ready for concrete.
South Beltway construction
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Lincoln, NE – 5/12/2021 – The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway stretches to the southwest as construction work continues on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
South Beltway construction
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Construction work on the South Beltway east of South 82nd Street.
South Beltway construction
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Lincoln, NE – 5/12/2021 – The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway stretches to the southwest as construction work continues on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
South Beltway construction
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Lincoln, NE – 5/12/2021 – The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway stretches to the southwest as construction work continues on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
South Beltway construction
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Construction continues on the South Beltway bridge over South 25th Street.
South Beltway construction
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Lincoln, NE – 5/12/2021 – Construction work on the South Beltway just west of South 68th Street continues on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
South Beltway construction
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MAKING HEADWAY
Construction work on the South Beltway continues near Saltillo Road on Monday. Crews have been working on the 11-mile bypass for just about a year and it’s scheduled to be finished in 2023.
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Nebraska Department of Transportation Director Kyle Schneweis speaks at an event on Oct. 8 to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway.
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Crews work on the Lincoln South Beltway continues U.S. 77 south of Saltillo Road on Oct. 8. The state unemployment rate last month reached the same level it was at in October 2019.
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln, NE – 10/9/2020 – Hawks Construction COO Chris Hawkins shows the transaction and pricing documents for the Lincoln South Beltway at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln, NE – 10/9/2020 – Hawks Construction COO Chris Hawkins shows the transaction and pricing documents for the Lincoln South Beltway at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln, NE – 10/9/2020 – Lincoln mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird speaks at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln, NE – 10/9/2020 – Construction of the Lincoln South Beltway continues near U.S. 77 south of Saltillo Road on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln, NE – 10/9/2020 – Construction of the Lincoln South Beltway continues near U.S. 77 south of Saltillo Road on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln, NE – 10/9/2020 – Traffic on U.S. 77 is reduced to two lanes to accommodate construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird (from left), state Sen. Mike Hilgers, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Sen. Deb Fisher, Nebraska Department of Transportation Director Kyle Schneweis and Hawkins Construction COO Chris Hawkins listen as Gov. Pete Ricketts speaks at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday.
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird speaks at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway last October.
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln, NE – 10/9/2020 – Gov. Pete Ricketts (L) listens as Rep. Jeff Fortenberry is introduced by Sen. Deb Fischer at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln South Beltway event
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry speaks at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Oct. 8.
Lincoln South Beltway event
Sen. Deb Fischer speaks at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Oct. 8.
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln, NE – 10/9/2020 – Nebraska Sen. Mike Hilgers speaks at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Gov. Pete Ricketts
Lincoln South Beltway event
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Lincoln, NE – 10/9/2020 – Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (L) and Sen. Deb Fischer listen to Gov. Pete Ricketts at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
South Beltway Aerials
Work continues on the South Beltway interchange at 68th Street, looking north toward Lincoln and the site of a new high school at 70th Street and Saltillo Road.
South Beltway Aerials
An aerial view, looking northeast, shows crews digging where the South Beltway will pass under a bridge built on Saltillo Road near 98th Street.
South Beltway Aerials
An aerial view, looking northwest, shows construction crews shaping the interchange tying U.S. 77 to the South Beltway.
South Beltway Tour, 9.2
Curt Mueting, a district construction engineer with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, said project managers meet weekly to update a rolling three-week outline of deadlines to keep South Beltway construction on schedule.
South Beltway Tour, 9.2
Crews have completed significant work on a roundabout at the intersection of Saltillo Road and South 14th Street that is a part of the South Beltway project.
South Beltway Tour, 9.2
To allow crews to build a new Saltillo Road interchange, Saltillo Road will be diverted onto a temporary road linking to a new intersection with U.S. 77.
South Beltway Tour, 9.2
Workers dig into the ground near 98th Street and Saltillo Road, where the South Beltway will pass under a bridge to be built for Saltillo Road traffic.
South Beltway Tour, 9.2
Crews are at work building the South Beltway interchange with U.S. 77. Work is shown looking east from just south of Saltillo Road.
South Beltway Tour, 9.2
Crews are at work building the South Beltway interchange with U.S. 77. Work is shown looking east from just south of Saltillo Road.
South Beltway Tour, 9.2
Construction on the South Beltway (shown looking south) has focused on the interchange with U.S. 77 southwest of Lincoln. The work has closed the northbound lanes of U.S. 77 in the area.
South Beltway construction
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MAKING PROGRESS
Construction crews work on the South Beltway south of Saltillo Road near South 38th Street on Monday. The long-awaited bypass is scheduled to be completed in 2023.
South Beltway construction
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Lincoln, NE – 6/29/2020 – Construction for the South Beltway keeps South 68th Street closed south of Saltillo Road on Monday, June 29, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln South Beltway
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Progress on the South Beltway in mid-June.
South Beltway
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A drone photograph shows early phases of construction along U.S. 77 near Saltillo Road where it will intersect with the new South Beltway.
South Beltway construction
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Construction begins on the South Beltway south of the intersection of U.S. 77 and Saltillo Road on Monday.
South Beltway construction
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Construction begins on the South Beltway south of the intersection of U.S. 77 and Saltillo Road on Monday.
South Beltway construction
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Demolition of Majors Cafe continues on Monday at the intersection of Saltillo Road and U.S. 77 as part of construction of the South Beltway.
Progress South Beltway
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Crews worked this winter to clear a farmstead southeast of U.S. 77 and Saltillo Road ahead of construction set to begin this spring on the South Beltway.
Majors Cafe
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Majors Cafe, on the southeast corner of Saltillo Road and U.S. 77, will have its last day of business Saturday. The state has purchased the site for the South Beltway.
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