‘We need to listen to the citizens’: NDOT proposes changes to Beatrice Highway 77

BEATRICE, Neb. (KLKN) — Highway 77, a main way to get in and out of Beatrice, could look different in the coming years.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation is pitching to change that to three lanes instead of four. The third would be a turn-only lane.

The reason behind that is that it would save around $5 million.

“If this gets trimmed to two lanes, and that bridge gets trimmed, Beatrice will never be four lanes again,” said Duane Ruh, a Beatrice City councilman. “That will be a problem.”

Ruh says the people of Beatrice aren’t on board with it, and he’s received hundreds of concerns.

“The citizens of Beatrice have told me overwhelmingly they do not want it to change. They like the way it is,” said Ruh. “I know from the city’s point of view it’s a cost difference, and could cause problems. I understand that. But, we need to listen to the people.”

He believes this move would cause congestion and more traffic, and many residents and business owners agree.

Some told Channel 8 off camera, “The city is not saving enough money for it all to be worth it.”

The proposed change would also affect the South Sixth Street Bridge, reducing it from four lanes to two.

One of the biggest reasons Ruh says this isn’t the right plan is the city of Beatrice’s continued growth.

“On the north end of town, we’ve got a new business coming in. So, they’re gonna have 150 more people,” said Ruh. “We’re gonna have more traffic, and trying to funnel that down to three lanes just isn’t going to work.”

The changes wouldn’t take effect until 2028 if the state decides to finalize them.