Lincoln unveils $35 million project to improve O Street downtown

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Lincoln officials detailed a plan to revamp O Street in downtown on Tuesday.

It’s called Project O Street and grew out of the Downtown Corridors Pilot Project.

The city said the $35 million project will be the biggest investment in downtown in nearly 50 years.

“This project represents a generational investment in our community that’s going to enhance our quality of life and grow economic opportunity for people in Lincoln far into the future,” Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said.

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The work will include replacing or resurfacing streets, installing new sidewalks and crosswalks, improving lighting and beautifying the landscaping.

A new water main will also be put in, and a lead water line will be replaced.

Funding will include money from Lincoln on the Move, the Nebraska Department of Transportation and tax-increment financing.

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The main focus of the project is O Street between Ninth and 16th streets, but it also includes 14th Street from N to P streets and 11th Street from O to Q streets.

The project will be split into three phases:

• Phase 1: Late fall 2025 to fall 2026, O Street from 14th to 16th
• Phase 2: Spring 2026 to fall 2026, O Street from 11th to 14th
• Phase 3: Summer 2026 to fall 2027, O Street from Ninth to 11th

At times, full street and sidewalk closures will be required, but the city said it will work to limit disruption during busy times, like Nebraska football season.

Some people who live downtown aren’t happy about the looming street closures.

“O Street is one of the main streets in Lincoln,” Charlie Petelle said. “So I can just imagine how inconvenient that would be.”

Another downtown resident, Marques Turner said the project “sounds stupid” because there’s so many small businesses in the area.

“Shutting down the street, walking way and driving, is going to be a lot of money out of their pockets,” Turner said.

The city said it is contact with businesses to help make sure the construction is efficient.

“We want to get in, do the work, get it done and get out quickly to minimize disruption and create great outcomes for our community,” Gaylor Baird said.

A longtime downtown resident who spoke at the city’s press conference praised the project.

“This infrastructure improvement to downtown will make everyone feel safer to come downtown and feel more connected,” Randy Hawthorne said.