‘You try to avoid the area’: Improvements coming to northeast Lincoln railroad crossing

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – According to the city of Lincoln, the railroad crossings at 33rd Street and Adams Street combined have one of the highest exposure and crash ratings in Nebraska, causing many to avoid them.

With plans to improve the railroad crossing as part of the 33rd and Cornhusker project, many people across the board are expressing gratitude for what’s to come.

Monae Moody is a Lincoln mother who travels near the crossing, often with her daughter in the car.

“There’s a lot of backups, a lot of traffic most of the time, a lot of the time,” she said. “I’m over here having a kid in the car; when there’s a train there, it’s a risk. You try to avoid the area.”

SEE ALSO: Lincoln eyes improvements at railroad crossings near 33rd and Cornhusker

Business owners nearby say navigating the area gets worse during rush hour. Employees are also expressing frustration.

“The amount of traffic that can get blocked up on it makes everyone late. We’re late to work, and the customers who want to try to get here before we close, it’s a huge detriment,” said Alex Abbott, who works at an auto store in the area.”

“You try to avoid the area. It’s probably an extra 15-20 minutes of travel just to get where we need to go,” said Moody.

A big problem to be solved by a big project.

The 33rd and Cornhusker improvement project aims to improve safety and reduce delays near the tracks. It’s set to break ground in 2028, and the improvements will cost nearly $120 million.

According to the city, $66 million is coming from a federal grant awarded to Lincoln last January, the largest grant in the city’s history.

SEE ALSO: ‘It really is a pain’: Lincolnites glad for $66.7 million grant to redo 33rd and Cornhusker

The proposal is before the city council right now, and they have moved it forward, but it will be at least another two weeks before they vote on it.

Next week, the public is invited to speak to the city council about the project.

Many people in the area by this railroad crossing say the change is welcomed, no matter the costs or duration.

“Honestly, whatever they do, I just hope it improves this area and improves the traffic,” said Moody.

“If the weather plays nice, it’ll probably follow that timeline, but knowing Nebraska weather, it’ll probably take a little longer, but given their time, they’ll get it done right,” said Abbott.

Many of the business owners who provided feedback off camera said they have concerns about the flow of patrons to their stores, but overall, they look forward to the long-term benefits the improvements will bring.