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Sarpy County approves $24,986 BNSF engineering review for 160 Eighth Street bridge project
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved a preliminary engineering services agreement with BNSF Railway for a design review of the 160 Eighth Street bridge as part of a larger $12 million reconstruction and expansion effort.
The Sarpy County Board of Commissioners on March 18 approved a preliminary engineering services agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. for a $24,986 review of the 160 Eighth Street bridge replacement design.
Deputy County Administrator Scott Vovic told commissioners the county intends to replace the existing bridge and build the ultimate four-lane crossing as part of a larger corridor expansion. "What you have today is an agreement with BNSF railroad for them to review the design," Vovic said. He described the agreement as an early step because projects that interact with railroad-owned infrastructure must follow BNSF procedures and timelines.
Vovic said the total anticipated project cost is $12,000,000 and described the work as removing the old bridge and replacing it with a four-lane structure with paving tie-ins to the north and south. He also said Sarpy County received metropolitan planning funding toward the expansion; the staff comment in the meeting referenced prior MAPA funding toward the project.
The agreement was presented as item 6.2 on the agenda. Commissioner Kelly moved to approve and Commissioner Nixon seconded; the motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Commissioners asked staff about right-of-way, impacts to a nearby business and whether trails or sidewalks would be accommodated. Vovic and staff said design is at an early stage, right-of-way acquisition has not started and details about sidewalks and trail connections will be refined as design progresses. Vovic estimated a timeline assuming design and funding alignment: advertise for bid by the end of 2026 with completion possibly by end of 2027, although he noted bridge work can be complex and timelines may shift.
Why it matters: the bridge replacement is a major local infrastructure project that would alter traffic patterns and require coordination with the railroad and adjacent property owners. The county flagged MAPA programming of funds toward the corridor in future fiscal years.
Next steps: finalize the BNSF review agreement, continue design, then begin right-of-way work and bidding processes as design advances.
