Planning of a new beltway project in Lancaster County was the subject of a legislative hearing on Tuesday. Lincoln Senator Beau Ballard’s bill would appropriate $25 million in general funds in fiscal year 2023-24 to the state Department of Transportation to begin planning for the Lincoln East Beltway project.
Planning would include designing the roadway and structures for the beltway, cost estimations, environmental studies and evaluation documents and a projected schedule for the project’s completion.
Ballard said the plan to develop the beltway already has been approved according to federal and state regulations, but requires funding to carry out the construction. “The East Beltway is an important part of Lincoln’s future transportation network. It provides benefits to the environment, property, business owners and the traveling public.”
Lancaster County Commissioner Christa Yoakum testified in support of the bill. He says The East Beltway is the final portion of the expressway system around the city of Lincoln and is the last “piece of the puzzle” to fully realizing the benefits of easy regional interconnectivity.
“Effective transportation infrastructure is vital to keeping Nebraska economically competitive and physical transportation infrastructure is an integral part of the supply chain that supports our continued local, regional and statewide growth within the wider global economy,” Yoakum says.
There were no opponents of LB721.
(Photo courtesy: City Of Lincoln)