Lincoln Transportation and Utilities O Street between 13th and 16th streets will close for extensive infrastructure upgrades as part of the ongoing Project O Street initiative. City officials said the closure is expected to remain in place until fall 2026.
“We are continuing to make progress across Lincoln when it comes to our construction,” LTU’s Erika Hill tells KLIN News “When you see orange cones, we really want people to think that means progress.”
The work includes water main replacement, utility upgrades by Black Hills Energy, wastewater improvements and lead service line replacements. Officials said crews are taking advantage of favorable weather conditions to accelerate work across the city. The downtown ‘O’ Street closure marks a significant step in the broader redevelopment effort aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure in the area.
Despite the closure, city leaders emphasized that downtown businesses, restaurants and parking areas will remain accessible throughout construction. “There are still many ways you can pivot around that small section of O Street to get anywhere that you want to go,” Hill says. “Keep shopping downtown, head over to the O Street restaurants and enjoy your weekend down there.”
Recommended detours include Antelope Valley Parkway, L Street, K Street, P Street, Q Street, 9th Street and 10th Street. Hill is encouraging commuters and residents to stay informed through several communication channels. Weekly construction updates are available at ProjectOStreet.com, and residents can also sign up for text alerts by texting 91896 through the project website.
I