Omaha residents mixed after Dundee traffic light replaced with four-way stop at 50th and Underwood

Some folks in Dundee are mourning their lost stoplight.

Back in August, Omaha Public Works shut off the traffic signal at the intersection of 50th Street and Underwood Avenue, replacing it with a four-way stop. The Dundee signal was one of 10 around the city darkened by engineers for two months as part of a study to determine whether to remove them completely.

Several workers at businesses on the commercial corner have a close-up view of what they describe as chaos and confusion, especially during the afternoons. They say there was no warning before workers bagged signals and put up stop signs, leaving drivers and pedestrians confused.

"Between three and five, maybe six o'clock, it's wall-to-wall cars," said Bev Clark, longtime manager of the Max I. Walker laundry just east of the intersection. "Before, when the light was green, you had a smooth flowing of cars."

Dundee residents like the pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. But Sarah Larsen, who walks to work at eCreamery on the southwest corner, said the intersection can be intimidating even for grown-ups on foot.

"For pedestrians, it can be a little hard to look all four ways and be sure everyone has stopped," she said. "Speaking personally, I think it's easier to cross with the traffic signal."

Sam Combs, a server at eCreamery doesn't believe the four-way stop fits the flow of traffic.

"It's just a little too busy of an intersection," he said. "It's a good idea, but people aren't used to it. It's not working."

Omaha Public Works officials said the study is part of a 12-year master plan to modernize and upgrade the city's network of 1,000 traffic signals.

But to secure funding, all traffic signals need to meet federal funding covering vehicle and pedestrian volumes, wait time, gaps in traffic, and crashes, Jeff Riesselman, Omaha's head traffic engineer, told The World-Herald in August.

The last step is the 60-day field study with the signals temporarily removed. City traffic engineers will monitor traffic volumes, queues, delays — and public comments.

In previous years, 36 signals were removed after similar studies.

The removal of the 50th-and-Underwood signal has caused a stir among members of the Dundee-Memorial Park Neighborhood Association. The group hasn't taken a position, but President Molly Romero said she personally prefers the four-way stop.

"There's a new freedom for motorists. I think the wait time is shorter," she said. "(Traffic) moves very well."

Romero said the association asked the city for a four-way stop at the intersection more than a decade ago and was rebuffed. The association members were as surprised as anyone when the signals were shut off in August.

She likes what she has seen in Dundee in the weeks since.

"I've noticed an increase in courtesy," she said. "It brings (the intersection) back to what a small town would feel like."

Nine other signals also have been removed as part of the study, which wraps up Oct. 22:

Florence Boulevard and Clark Street.

Florence Boulevard and Spencer Street.

South 132nd Street and Sky Park Drive.

South 168th and Harney Streets.

North 30th Street and Webster Plaza.

Public comments may be made at: www.keepomahamoving.com/projects/traffic-control-signal-field-removal-study

New road construction projects in Nebraska and western Iowa

North 41st Street between California and Page Streets will be closed to through traffic for street repair until Wednesday.

Corby Street between North 38th and North 40th Streets will be closed to through traffic for utility work until Wednesday.

Emmet Street between North 33rd Street and John A. Creighton Boulevard will be closed for sewer repair until Thursday.

Blondo Street at North 101st Street will be restricted to one lane westbound for street repair in the inside lane until Wednesday.

Leavenworth Street between South 42nd and South 44th Streets will be restricted to one lane westbound for utility work in the inside lane until Wednesday.

South 120th Street between L Street and West Center Road will have varying lane restrictions for concrete-sealing until Thursday.

F Street between South 42nd Street and South 44th Avenue will be closed for street repair until Wednesday.

F Street between South 180th and South 192nd Streets will have various lane restrictions for utility adjustments until Wednesday.

Dodge Street between North 46th and North 48th Streets will have lane restrictions westbound for utility work in the outside curb lane until Monday.

North 132nd Street between Manderson Street and West Maple Road will have various lane restrictions for street repair until Friday.

California Street between North 38th and North 40th Streets will be closed for sewer repair until Tuesday.

The intersection of North 38th and Pratt Streets will be closed for sewer repair until Thursday.

South 46th Street between Arbor and Bancroft Streets will be closed to through traffic for utility work until Thursday.

A lane is restricted southbound on South 10th Street at Hickory Street because of utility work until Wednesday.

Lane restrictions are in place on North First Street between Harrison and Vine Streets in Council Bluffs because of concrete repairs to ADA ramps until Wednesday.

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.

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.

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 Thursday.

North 132nd Street between West Dodge Road and Blondo Street will have varying lane restrictions for street milling until Wednesday.

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

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

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 Thursday.

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.

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 Oct. 17.

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

Ames Avenue bridge over the North Freeway between North 25th and North 28th Avenues will have varying lane restrictions because of bridge repairs until Oct. 16.

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

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

intersection of Florence Boulevard and Lake Street will be closed for construction of a CSO sanitary sewer separation project until Nov. 12.

North 18th Street between Lake Street and Ohio Street will be closed for construction of a CSO sanitary sewer separation project until Nov. 12.

intersection of North 18th and Locust Streets will be closed for CSO sanitary sewer separation improvements until Thursday. Corby Street between North 16th and North 18th Streets is also closed until Friday as part of the same project.

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.

Lake Street between North 16th Street and Florence Boulevard will be closed for CSO sanitary sewer separation improvements until Nov. 15.

North 16th Street will have periodic lane closures between Pinkney and Clark Streets for CSO sewer separation improvements through Dec. 15.

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 Oct. 14.

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

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

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. Millard Avenue from U Street to South 144th Street is closed for pavement replacement until late fall. Traffic will be detoured via South 144th and Q Streets.

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

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 24th Street exit and the Missouri River so workers can seal joints and repaint stripes until late fall.

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

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.

Leavenworth Street between South 50th Avenue and South 52nd Street will be restricted to one lane westbound because of utility work until Nov. 7.

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

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 Tuesday. South 37th Street between Farnam and Harney,Farnam between South 38th and South 37th Streets is closed until Tuesday 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 Wednesday.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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 Monday.

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 Thursday.

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

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 Deer Park/Bob Gibson Boulevard and B Street will be restricted to one lane southbound for street repair in the outside curb lane until today.

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

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

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

Howard Street between South 11th and South 12th Streets will have varying lane restrictions because of brick street rehabilitation 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 through the fall.

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.

The right lane is closed on Nebraska Highway 50 between Cornish Road and Nebraska Highway 31 north of Louisville for road construction until Dec. 31.

A lane is closed intermittently and flaggers are being used on U.S. Highway 6 over the Platte River near Ashland for concrete repair, joint-sealing and resurfacing until Oct. 31. A lane is also closed intermittently on Nebraska Highway 66 between U.S. 6 and Interstate 80 near Ashland as part of a similar project until Oct. 31.

Road construction projects around Nebraska

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.

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.

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

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

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.