‘Going to be a pain’: Concerns growing as two-year construction project starts on Highway 77

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Neighbors are worried about traffic backups as construction starts Tuesday at the intersection of Highway 77 and Warlick Boulevard.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation will work on the road and build a new bridge.

Crews will close lanes and shift traffic as needed.

The construction is expected to last until fall of 2027.

Emily Englebert lives in the area.

She — along with others in the community — is concerned about how much this will hold up traffic since it’s one of the primary routes to get into Lincoln

“If it shuts down to one lane or if it’s closed, even the alternative ways are going to back up,” she said. “We’re definitely going to have to leave earlier and plan ahead and make changes because of it.”

Chloe Blum, a high school senior, said she will likely have to find another route to school or leave early.

“It’s going to be a pain in the butt to get into town just because it’s one of the biggest ways to get into town from out here,” she said.

And it’s not just homeowners who are dreading the long project. The Warhorse Casino is right by the construction zone.

“We have very little traffic coming here from the other directions,” said Lynne McNally, the CEO of Nebraska Horsemen. “I would say probably 95% of the traffic is coming from that intersection.”

McNally said she’s concerned it will drive customers away.

“I think they will find a way to get there, but you have to think about people who are aware of the construction,” she said. “Are they at home and thinking, ‘Do I really want to fight the traffic, or do I want to do something else?'”

Most people agreed that in the long run, these road improvements will be positive.

McNally hopes it will eventually bring even more people through the casino doors.

“I think overall, this whole area could use an upgrade,” she said. “As you can see, the population here is exploding. Things are building everywhere around us, so there’s going to be a lot more traffic coming to this area, just overall.”

Channel 8 contacted NDOT. It has not yet sent a comment.