2 1/2-year sewer project has roads closed in North Omaha but some relief is on the way

Omaha Public Works has been chewing up the streets in North Omaha to install a new sanitary sewer system underground. The pounding of heavy equipment in the area has been nearly constant in neighborhoods along North 16th Street since 2022.

Fixing Omaha's obsolete sewage system is a dirty, expensive job. In 2009, the city launched the 30-year, $2 billion "Clean Solutions for Omaha" (CSO) project to separate household sewage from stormwater runoff, with the aim of preventing toxic E. coli bacteria from flowing into rivers and streams during heavy rains.

The CSO program has 59 separate projects to build new storm sewers, lift stations, treatment plants and storage tanks. By the time it's finished, in 2037, 439 blocks of city streets and 515 blocks of sidewalks will be replaced, more than 7,000 feet of hiking trails will be built, and nearly 2,000 new trees planted, according to the city's OmahaCSO.com website. About half the money has been spent.

Finally, at least, 16th Street residents and businesses are getting a break. A milelong stretch between Pinkney and Clark Streets has reopened to traffic, though some work will continue until mid-December, said Jim Theiler, assistant director of Omaha's Public Works Department.

It couldn't come soon enough for Chubb Foods, a supermarket that has stood at the corner of 16th and Locust Streets since 1985. The store has survived storms, recession, and neighborhood blight — but store manager Carrie McIntosh said the store has barely hung on through the sewer project.

Last spring, the city closed down both 16th and Locust. The only way in, for customers and delivery trucks, was through a commercial entrance.

"It hurt us. We lost a lot of money," she said. "A lot."

One plus, though: McIntosh says the pungent aroma of sewage she sometimes smelled near her home at 16th and Lake Streets, four blocks to the south, has disappeared.

Several neighborhood streets just west of 16th remain closed. Those projects are forecast to wrap up in the next couple of months, according to Omaha Public Works' online traffic map:

Corby Street between North 16th and North 18th Streets, closed until Oct. 11.

intersection of North 18th and Locusts Streets, closed until Oct. 11.

North 18th Street between Lake and Ohio Streets, closed until Nov. 12.

intersection of Florence Boulevard and Lake Street, closed until Nov. 12.

Lake Street between North 16th Street and Florence Boulevard, closed until Nov. 15.

Friends Shay Anderson and Makaila Johnson live nearby and take walks near the construction zone, as they did one morning this week on Lake Street near Florence Boulevard.

"Because we walk, it doesn't bother us too much," Anderson said. "Sometimes we see the cars come through, though, and turn around."

Johnson said the construction vehicles are pretty good about yielding to drivers and pedestrians. But she's still ready for a respite.

"I just wish they would hurry up and get it done," she said.

Tony Jones said has watched the work during frequent visits to his cousin, who lives at 20th and Lake. He sees the current pain paying off in the form of smooth new streets.

"It's a little bad around here," he said. "But we need it fixed. You tell them that downtown."

New road construction projects in Nebraska and western Iowa

North 132nd Street between West Dodge Road and California Street will be closed for street paving overnight tonight (Sunday) beginning at 6 p.m.

North 120th Street between State Street and Rainwood Road will be closed for road construction until December.

Leavenworth Street between South 50th Avenue and South 52nd Street will be restricted to one lane westbound because of utility work until Nov. 7. Leavenworth between South 52nd and South 54th Streets will be restricted to one lane eastbound for street repair in the outside curb lane until Tuesday.

South 48th Street between Weir and Harrison Streets will be closed for utility work until Oct. 30.

Dodge Street between North 38th Avenue and North 39th Street will have varying lane restrictions for utility work until Friday.

South 42nd Street at Pacific Street will be restricted to one lane southbound for utility work in the inside lane until Wednesday.

South 28th Street between Dewey Avenue and Farnam Street will have varying lane restrictions for utility work related to construction of Omaha's new streetcar until Nov. 17.

The eastbound curb lane on Military Avenue from Keystone Drive to North 72nd Street will be closed for construction and tree removal until Oct. 18.

South 144th Street between Blossom Avenue and Pine Street will have various lane restrictions for concrete sealing until Tuesday.

South 192nd Street between I Street and the Omaha city limits will have southbound traffic shifted to the center lane for street repair until Tuesday.

intersection of South 94th and F Streets will have varying lane restrictions for street repair until Friday.

South 108th Street between Q Street and Mockingbird Drive will be restricted to one lane northbound for street repair in the inside lane until Monday.

South 15th Street between Farnam and Douglas Streets will be closed for crane operations Monday and Tuesday.

South 13th Street between Deer Park/Bob Gibson Boulevard and B Street will be restricted to one lane southbound for street repair in the outside curb lane until Oct. 6.

intersection of South 140th Street and Industrial Frontage Road will have varying lane restrictions for utility work until Oct. 27.

South 96th Street at Mockingbird Drive will be restricted to one lane southbound for street repair in the outside curb lane until Wednesday.

South 19th Street between Leavenworth and Jackson Streets will have lane restrictions northbound because of utility work until Oct. 26.

The intersection of North 18th Street and Willis Avenue will be closed for construction of a CSO sanitary sewer separation project until Nov. 25.

Howard Street between South 11th and South 12th Streets will have varying lane restrictions because of brick street rehabilitation until Oct. 10.

South 36th Street between Leavenworth and Pacific Streets will have varying lane restrictions for utility work until Saturday.

Frances Street between South 46th Street and South 46th Avenue will be closed to through traffic for fiber-optic installation until Wednesday.

Veterans Drive between North 202nd and North 204th Streets will have varying lane restrictions for street repair until Tuesday.

Eastbound traffic is restricted at the intersection of South 67th and Castelar Streets because of street repair until Monday.

McPherson Avenue between Valley View Drive and Ferndale Drive in Council Bluffs will be closed for gas-main installation until Oct. 31.

Eastbound lane restrictions are in place on Bennett Avenue between Wendy Heights Road and Mall Drive in Council Bluffs because of concrete repairs until Oct. 9.

Road construction projects in Omaha

Northwest (north of West Dodge Road and west of I-680)

Overnight and weekend lane and ramp closures can be expected on the West Dodge Expressway between 168th Street and Skyline Drive for bridge repairs and drainage improvements through spring 2025.

is being rebuilt as a "diverging diamond" interchange. Periodic lane closures and some overnight ramp closures can be expected through the end of 2024.

Overnight lane closures (7 p.m. to 5 a.m.) can be expected on South 204th Street/U.S. Highway 6/Nebraska Highway 31 from Harrison Street to West Dodge Road for concrete and bridge repair and joint sealing until Oct. 31.

North Main Street between Elkhorn Drive and Ohio Street will be closed for utility work until Wednesday.

F Street between 204th and 207th Streets is closed for road construction until late fall.

F Street between 202nd and 204th Streets will be closed for road construction until Dec. 31.

Mount Michael Road between North 216th Street and Elkhorn Mount Michael High School is closed for road construction until late fall.

Farnam Street between South 197th and South 199th Streets will be closed for sewer repair until Wednesday.

Ida Street between 168th and 180th Streets will have varying lane restrictions for panel repair until Oct. 7.

State Street from Kilpatrick Parkway to HWS Cleveland Boulevard, and 168th Street from Rachel Snowden Parkway to Reynolds Street are closed for grading, paving and reconstruction of the until December 2024.

Lane restrictions are in place eastbound on West Maple Road at 156th Street because of utility work in the outside curb lane until Monday.

Northeast (north of Dodge Street and east of I-680)

Nighttime lane and ramp closures can be expected on I-80 between South 60th and South 24th Streets because of patching, bridge repairs and road resurfacing until late fall.

North 72nd Street between Western Avenue and Maple Street will have varying lane restrictions for ADA curb ramp construction until Thursday.

North 72nd Street between Bedford Avenue and Wirt Street will be restricted to one lane in each direction because of CSO sanitary sewer separation construction until Tuesday.

The eastbound lane of Maple Street between 68th and 70th Streets is closed because of CSO sanitary sewer construction until Oct. 26.

The eastbound curb lane is closed on Dodge Street from 46th Street to the Saddle Creek Road exit ramp because of construction on an adjacent property until Dec. 31.

intersection of Forest Lawn Avenue and North Ridge Drive will be closed as part of a CSO sanitary sewer separation project until Thursday.

Hamilton Street bridge spanning the North Freeway is closed for bridge repairs until Nov. 30. The southbound exit and entrance ramps also are closed.

North 30th Street between Craig and Forest Lawn Avenues will be restricted to one lane southbound because of a CSO sanitary sewer separation project until Oct. 3. Forest Lawn Avenue between North 30th and North 31st Streets will be closed as part of the same project until Oct. 22.

Ames Avenue bridge over the North Freeway between North 25th and North 28th Avenues will have varying lane restrictions because of bridge repairs until Wednesday.

Florence Boulevard between Read Street and Sharon Drive is closed for CSO sanitary sewer separation improvements until Dec. 31.

North 17th Street between Dodge Street and Capitol Avenue will be restricted to one lane northbound for fiber-optic installation in the outside curb lane until Tuesday.

Abbott Drive between Carter Boulevard and Pratt Court near Eppley Airfield will be restricted to one lane northbound because of an airport expansion project in the outside curb lane until Dec. 16.

Southwest (south of West Dodge Road and west of I-680/80)

Shoulders are closed, speed limits are reduced and occasional lane closures may occur on Interstate 80 from the Platte River to near the Nebraska Highway 50/South 144th Street exit to allow for construction of a cable median barrier through late fall.

South 222nd Street (Skyline Drive) from I Street to south of Q Street is closed for reconstruction of the roadway and construction of a new roundabout at 222nd and Q Streets until November.

South 168th Street between Q Street and West Center Road will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024.

F Street between South 147th Street and South 150th Plaza will be closed for street improvements until Monday.

The intersection of South 145th Street and Industrial Frontage Road will be closed for sewer and street improvements until Oct. 15.

Varying lane restrictions can be expected on Nebraska Highway 50/South 144th Street/Millard Avenue from L Street to Nebraska Highway 370 through July 31, 2025.

South 132nd Street between Atwood and Augusta Avenues will be restricted to one lane northbound for sewer repair in the inside lane until Monday.

Q Street between Magnolia and South 122nd Streets is restricted to one lane eastbound because of wall repair until Tuesday.

South 120th Street between William Street and Poppleton Plaza will be restricted to one lane northbound for utility work until Wednesday.

Southeast (south of West Dodge Road and east of I-680/80)

Nighttime lane and bridge closures are occurring on I-80 between the 60th Street and 24th Street exits to allow for bridge repairs and resurfacing of the roadway until late fall.

Nighttime lane and ramp closures will occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Interstate 80 between the 13th and 24th Street exits so workers can seal joints and repaint stripes for the rest of the summer.

South 72nd Street between Hickory and Pine Streets will have lane restrictions northbound for sidewalk and curb replacement in the outside curb lane until Wednesday.

Varying lane restrictions are in place at South 60th and Weir Streets because of utility work until Oct. 16.

Pine Street between South 52nd and South 54th Streets will be closed to through traffic for utility improvements until Oct. 18.

The eastbound curb lane on Douglas Street will be closed between for construction through May 2025.

Varying lane restrictions are in place at the intersection of Saddle Creek Road and Leavenworth Street because of utility work and intersection improvements until Dec. 13.

Harney Street between South 39th and South 37th Streets is restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction until Oct. 8. South 37th Street between Farnam and Harney,Farnam between South 38th and South 37th Streets is closed until Oct. 8 as part of the same project.

Eastbound traffic on Farnam Street between South 37th and South 33rd Streets will be shifted to the center lane for utility work to accommodate the new streetcar line until Thursday.

intersection of South 32nd and Y Streets will be closed for street improvements until Tuesday.

Leavenworth Street between South 30th and South 31st Streets will have lane restrictions eastbound for utility work until Sept. 30.

South 28th Street between W Street and U Plaza will have lane restrictions southbound because of utility work until Friday.

Vinton Street between South 20th and Elm Streets will be closed eastbound for sewer repair until further notice.

Douglas Street at South 19th Street will have lane restrictions eastbound due to utility work related to construction of the new streetcar line until Nov. 1.

Farnam Street between South 19th and South 20th Streets will have lane restrictions westbound for utility work until Oct. 16.

A lane will be closed southbound and eastbound at the intersection of South 16th and Harney Streets due to utility work related to construction of the new streetcar line until Oct. 7.

Harney Street between South 13th and South 14th Streets will have lane restrictions westbound due to utility work related to construction of the new streetcar line until Monday.

Harney between South 13th and South 11th Streets will have lane restrictions eastbound for fiber-optic repair until Tuesday.

Farnam Street between South 15th and South 17th Streets will have lane restrictions westbound for utility work related to the construction of the new streetcar line until Monday.

South 17th Street south of Jackson Street in front of the Douglas County Department of Corrections facility is closed is due to construction of a building addition until Sept. 3, 2026.

South 14th Street is closed between Farnam and Douglas Streets, and curbside lanes are closed on Farnam, Douglas and South 15th Street because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower until early 2026.

South 13th Street between Missouri Avenue and M Street will be restricted to one lane southbound for utility work in the outside curb lane due to a water-main break until Friday.

The southbound outside lane is restricted on South 13th Street between William and Pine Streets because of road construction until Monday.

South 13th Street at Mid City Avenue will be restricted to one lane southbound because of utility work until Friday.

South 13th Street at Z Street will have lane restrictions southbound for utility work in the outside curb lane until Monday.

Northbound lane restrictions are in place on South 10th Street 200 feet north of Harney Street because of fiber-optic installation until Thursday.

Road construction projects in Sarpy & Cass Counties

Nighttime lane and ramp closures (7 p.m. to 6 a.m.) can be expected on U.S. Highway 75/Kennedy Freeway from the Douglas County line to north of the U.S. Highway 34 interchange for bridge and ramp repairs until spring 2025.

The shoulder is closed and speed is reduced to 65 mph on I-80 between the Nebraska Highway 50/144th Street exit and the Platte River because of installation of a cable median barrier until Monday.

The right lane is closed eastbound on U.S. Highway 34 between Nebraska Highway 1/Murray Road and Oak Hill Road south of Plattsmouth as part of expansion of the highway into a four-lane expressway until Nov. 1.

Road construction projects around Nebraska

Occasional lane closures will occur and the speed limit has been reduced because of road maintenance work on U.S. Highway 275 from U.S. Highway 77 near Fremont to East Meigs Street in Valley until October.

Intermittent lane closures can be expected on Interstate 80 between Exit 388 (Crete) and Exit 395 (Northwest 48th Street) west of Lincoln while the highway is widened to six lanes and the Pleasant Dale interchange is reconstructed through November.

The left lane is closed in both directions on I-80 between mile markers 349 and 366 near Utica and York because of road construction through November.

The right lane is closed and traffic is reduced to two lanes head-to-head on U.S. 30 between East 14th and East 29th Avenues, and between Third and 32nd Avenues in Columbus for road construction, through fall 2024.

Traffic will run head-to-head and width restrictions will be in place on I-80 between mile markers 254 and 263 near Lexington and Kearney until spring 2026 while workers completely reconstruct the roadway, widen and rebuild four bridge decks, and replace ramps at the Elm Creek interchange. Work will take place in the eastbound lanes during 2024 and the westbound lanes during 2025.

Road construction projects in Council Bluffs & Iowa

Occasional nighttime lane and ramp closures may occur on I-80 at the Madison Avenue interchange through June 2026 while the interchange is being rebuilt. Both shoulders are closed through July 1, 2025. Lane restrictions are in place on Madison Avenue between Rue Street and Woodbury Avenue as part of the same project until April 30, 2025.

The right shoulder is closed because of construction on I-80 in Iowa between Exit 27 (near Neola) and Exit 97 (Stuart) from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays until Nov. 28.

Head-to-head traffic is in place on I-29 from Exit 1 (Iowa Highway 33 East) and Exit 10 (Iowa Highway 2) north of Hamburg because of road construction until Thursday.

Avenue L between North 27th and North 28th Streets in Council Bluffs will be closed because of a storm sewer rehabilitation project until Nov. 30.

North 28th Street between Avenues M and N in Council Bluffs will be closed for water-main repairs until Oct. 31.

Lane restrictions are in place on North 10th Street between Avenues E and F in Council Bluffs because of emergency sewer repairs until Nov. 1.

The right shoulder is closed in both directions from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays on U.S. Highway 6 between Council Bluffs and Atlantic because of road construction until Nov. 28.

The right shoulder is closed in both directions from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays on Iowa Highway 92 between Treynor and Griswold because of road construction until Nov. 28.