[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6487318,"mediaKeyId","5671285-4ba07bdae4fdb886f16f90cd59188004","parentId",5671285,"title","NDOT District 6 outlines maintenance needs and projects as North Platte officials press for rail‑park access","audioSeconds",2666,"startMs",235000,"endMs",2901000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671285-4ba07bdae4fdb886f16f90cd59188004&start=235&end=2901","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671285-4ba07bdae4fdb886f16f90cd59188004/thumbnail_235000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6487318/Nebraska/NDOT-District-6-outlines-maintenance-needs-and-projects-as-North-Platte-officials-press-for-railpark-access","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487318-dd60681852b15d88e6d9ec2b103aac85/orig.mp4?Expires=1770914291&Signature=T0vvlQmvhf3X65AiIslpQH3rHEC9AH3ma1BHmydAZbdxXRrHkf0kK9E6WwSWAGlHYYvy90EFTeE2hCb6fqpyDvU6ODxF2t-x9Wd3bKNJ8-8ZUwvA5nVVi5Ea5fcO8Y3TL0BIom7hFWnOqWFi8uEt4aBYf6DV5Q38LY22Kq6ycZ5mtW4g-IDYtfVD8b26n5Ju28iwVXTDTcc~Y9DMIQB6jlbsId9rRwuSFx8uAOUku8HDRK8xwUN0JqH5yFJMwRQ~U0qIJ0ezLYni61V70BuOcodg8vSsIiAUJnFebiVNTZNZHmtG-AgrxECGp00RPynrtVzNE6YZwKvRov1mlb5oBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nebraska Department of Transportation","date","2025-08-25T20:04:22Z","article","Nebraska Department of Transportation District 6 staff told the State Highway Commission on Aug. 22 that the district is responsible for roughly 3,000 lane miles, runs dozens of snow routes and is managing a heavy construction and maintenance workload while continuing to face funding constraints.

\"I am excited to serve West Central Nebraska,\" said Cameron Craig, introduced as the District 6 engineer, as he summarized the district’s maintenance and construction program to the commission. Craig said District 6 is responsible for about 3,000 lane miles, includes 152 full‑time positions when fully staffed, operates roughly 95 separate snow routes (27 of them 24‑hour routes), and aims to perform about 200 lane miles of chip seals per year. He said the district spends approximately $5,300,000 annually on maintenance materials and that the district’s pavement segments average about 17 years since their last overlay. Craig reported the district’s Nebraska serviceability index at about 84.3 (the goal cited was 84.7) and said contract construction in fiscal 2025 totaled about $130 million.

Local business leaders and officials used the commission meeting’s public input period to urge NDOT to accelerate work that would support a new rail park and broader industrial development in the North Platte area. Eric Sechrist, representing the North Platte Area Chamber of Commerce and Development, described a planned rail park with access to the mainline and said a rebuilt intersection on Highway 30 is critical for safe truck movement. \"The significance of this is North Platte has never been able to have a decent industrial rail park right here,\" Sechrist said, adding that access is essential for moving agricultural products and attracting industry.

Gary Pearson, president of the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation, told the commission the project has state support, that a transload area design should be ready for bidding in the fall, and that the rail park could eventually support hundreds of jobs. \"We're very close to signing our first industrial project,\" Pearson said. He said the state is involved in funding the development and that over time the rail park could generate value‑added manufacturing and logistics activity.

Local officials also raised maintenance pressures in sparsely populated counties. Tom Werblov, introduced as county superintendent of Pearson County, said his county of about 600 residents struggles to maintain miles of paved county roads and has been converting some asphalt roads to gravel because of rising costs: \"We are in a position now of converting a lot of our asphalt loads to gravel just simply because we can't maintain asphalt,\" Werblov said.

NDOT Director Vicky Kramer and other department leaders used the meeting to reiterate statewide funding constraints and to describe agency priorities. Kramer noted NDOT’s primary revenue source is motor fuel excise taxes and reminded commissioners that pandemic relief (ARPA) and other federal funds have helped the department address lower‑priority preservation needs. She said the department continues to pursue federal grants, P3 and innovative‑finance planning and to work with the governor’s office and legislature on broader funding options. NDOT staff also described recent guidance under the NEVI program that the department said allows more flexibility for electric‑vehicle charging corridor planning.

District 6 presentations also highlighted several specific and forthcoming projects: an I‑80 reconstruction segment where original 1968 concrete pavement is being replaced, urban rehabilitation projects on US‑83 and US‑30 in and near North Platte, and multiple Interstate 80 resurfacing and bridge‑repair projects planned across the district. Craig said many projects require extensive public involvement and coordination with local stakeholders.

The meeting closed with NDOT announcements of additional public information meetings on other projects and the commission’s next meeting date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 22nd, 2025 | NDOT Highway Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","NDOT District 6 staff described maintenance workloads, preservation spending and a busy construction program; North Platte business and civic leaders urged state help rebuilding an intersection to serve a new rail park and faster delivery on Mulberry corridor improvements.","taxTitle","Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), State Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Nebraska","taxId",29124,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6487324,"State Highway Commission backs NDOT design for N-66 connection in Louisville",1177,2728000,3905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671285-4ba07bdae4fdb886f16f90cd59188004&start=2728&end=3905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671285-4ba07bdae4fdb886f16f90cd59188004/thumbnail_2728000.jpg","/articles/6487324/Nebraska/State-Highway-Commission-backs-NDOT-design-for-N-66-connection-in-Louisville","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487324-60b8e9d2dfb44134daa9d44be6a4a8a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770914291&Signature=E4pLypmaJVvgFKFRn2nND27j-lsjMx9qSWNpd96CpW6qrdwzILpM4MJF5LDxEVIi9fAPsDHttpxDaCO137kr2TH3lhhZhfszRDkXRt1mWp8hxPn16Z8~S3fuMYvZYZDaOBCH9ySMwvwDVmReSrdRLu9PgfDdihTAeWtYT1ArpHIvzCXMuOYzchCqKPwZqUT9X3Jqmm1w0cgtbQRLcnD9EX4fP2exibpib9rlnVOlw6qaVIudsRcwd9PO1XF07boJTEiRKWfei1nofHLVDNybc7PEsUjT~I3GKCoIlSij~NBVduH1CjLJbBVVykJMdixi1lgDJTCSlIhYnVZe0MKaHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nebraska State Highway Commission on Aug. 22 recommended approval of the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s design for the N‑66 connection in Louisville, approving a commission resolution that advances the project to the governor as required by state law.

NDOT consultant Brian Johnson of Broadway Design told the commission the plan would close three existing Union Pacific at‑grade crossings, construct a new signalized, at‑grade crossing on Fifth Street, build turn lanes at the N‑50/N‑66 intersection, add pedestrian accommodations and realign about 0.13 miles of the route so the state route is continuous through Louisville. \"This project will be connecting the gap for one continuous highway route,\" Johnson said during his presentation.

The department estimates the N‑66 connection will cost about $9 million, funded through a combination of federal, state and city sources, and reported that right‑of‑way acquisition is underway. NDOT staff said the project is in final design, the agency expects to submit a categorical exclusion to the Federal Highway Administration later in 2025, plans to let the project for construction in 2026 and finish construction in 2027.

The project team described the preferred alignment and design features: 12‑foot driving lanes with shoulders, a pedestrian sidewalk north of the new alignment, a pedestrian barrier on the bridge segment and removal of two siding tracks at the Union Pacific crossing. As part of the plan, three existing UP crossings north, south and about three miles south of town would be closed; the county and Union Pacific have agreed to those closures in coordination with the project.

NDOT held a public information open house on May 29 that drew about 106 people and generated 26 comments, according to the presentation. Common concerns from attendees included impacts to residents along existing Fifth Street — which would be converted from a dead‑end street to a state route — pedestrian safety at the new crossing, the timing and coordination of construction with a separate Sixth Street bridge project, and long‑term intersection needs at N‑50 and N‑66. NDOT staff said pedestrian facilities and high‑visibility crossing treatments are part of the design and that intersections will be monitored for future improvements.

Commissioners voted to recommend NDOT’s design to the governor by approving Resolution No. 2025‑5. The roll call recorded the motion as approved by the commissioners present. The resolution cites Nebraska Revised Statute 39‑1309.2 as the authorizing statute for commission review of NDOT project location and design recommendations.

The commission’s action clears the way for the department to pursue required federal approvals, complete right‑of‑way work and move toward advertisement. NDOT staff said they and city officials will continue coordination on pedestrian access and traffic management during construction.","The Nebraska State Highway Commission voted to recommend NDOT’s design for a signalized, at‑grade N‑66 connection in Louisville, a project NDOT estimates at about $9 million and expects to advertise for bids in 2026.","actionData","errors"]

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NDOT District 6 outlines maintenance needs and projects as North Platte officials press for rail‑park access

State Highway Commission backs NDOT design for N-66 connection in Louisville