UPDATE: Ricketts, DOT announce record-setting investment in roads
UPDATE:
On Thursday Gov. Ricketts and the Department of Transportation announced they’re investing a record–setting $600 million in roads projects across the state this fiscal year.
"Our three largest industries in the state are agriculture, manufacturing and tourism," Ricketts said. "All three of those rely on a strong transportation infrastructure to be able to grow."
It will go toward more than 90 projects in urban and rural areas, including Highway 275, the Fremont Southeast Bypass and the Lincoln South Beltway, an 11–mile freeway south of Lincoln connecting Highway 77 and Highway 2.
DOT Director Kyle Schneweis said work on that project is scheduled to start in 2020.
"People don’t even believe me when I say we’re going to build it," Schneweis said. "I am here to tell you we will build it. We are going to turn dirt on that project soon and after decades of waiting, we’re going to finally have a south beltway here in Lincoln."
Other projects include work on I–80 and bridges.
Schneweis said this was made possible by the Transportation Innovation Act, which he said enables the state to partner with the counties on projects.
"One of our most important infrastructure issues is structurally deficient bridges at the county level," he said. "Before the innovation act, we had no way to partner, as a state, with the counties. And last year, we did 68 bridges across the state."
The DOT said most of the $600 million comes from state funds, the rest from the federal level.
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On Thursday, Gov. Ricketts and the Department of Transportation announced what will be the largest investment in the state’s history.
They said they’re investing $600 million in roads projects across the state.
"Our three largest industries in the state are agriculture, manufacturing and tourism," Ricketts said. "All three of those rely on a strong transportation infrastructure to be able to grow."
It’s part of the DOT’s program for the next five years and it will go toward more than 90 projects in urban and rural areas; including Highway 275, the Fremont Southeast Bypass and the Lincoln South Beltway.
"People don’t even believe me when I say we’re going to build it," said DOT Director Kyle Schneweis. "I am here to tell you we will build it. We are going to turn dirt on that project soon and after decades of waiting, we’re going to finally have a south beltway here in Lincoln."
Schneweis said this was made possible by the Transportation Innovation Act, which he said enables the state to partner with the counties on projects.
Other projects include work on I–80 and bridges.
