Lincoln businesses are ‘not going to give up’ as 48th street project is put on pause

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – For over 6 months, the area of North 48th Street has been under construction to replace a water main and fix arterial roads.

The city initially expected to complete the project in December, but now says traffic could open as early as Thanksgiving.

Chad Vanek, owner of Blu Velvet Underground Bartique, said some businesses in the area have had to close down due to the decrease in customers.

“We’ve been really struggling,” he said. “The restaurant was shut down for several months, the boutique here on the other side of me had to shut down. So yeah, pretty sad.”

But by the week of Thanksgiving, city officials say the water main will be finished and the road will open up to traffic.

Liz Elliott, director of Lincoln Transportation and Utilities, said that’s just in time for the holidays.

“The City’s commitment to its business community and our effort to maintain the City’s infrastructure continues to be top priorities for our team,” she said in a statement. “Postponing this segment of the arterial mill and overlay project will open up the street several weeks sooner than planned.”

But Vanek said that may be too little, too late for the local businesses.

“Originally it was supposed to be done December 4th anyways,” he said. “Two weeks helps for sure, it gives us Black Friday which is a huge day for us so we’re looking forward to that. Two weeks isn’t a lot of difference after an 8-month barricade, but we’ll take what we can get at this point.”

Elliot says pausing construction over the winter will also avoid any weather delays.

The street will be open until spring of 2024, when crews will finish the rest of the project.

Officials say that could take up to eight weeks, and one lane of traffic will be open during that time.

In April when LTU held an open house for people to learn about the project, Vanek said businesses were told that at least one lane of traffic would be left open for the entirety of the project.

“We just wish that they had kept their commitment,” he said. “When they said they’d leave one lane open the whole time and they didn’t. So that was really what killed us all. Hopefully they’re keeping their word this time.”

Vanek said while the project was needed to fix up the area, not having as much income for so long made it difficult.

“We’re stubborn,” he said. “Those of us that are left are certainly not going to give up.”