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Kearney adopts 1‑and‑6‑year street plan; projects include Avenue A reconstruction and signal near Sunrise Middle School
Summary
The City Council adopted the 1‑and‑6‑year street improvement plan, endorsing projects for 2026 and years 2–6 including reconstruction of Avenue A adjacent to Good Samaritan Hospital, a traffic signal and turn lane at 40th and Avenue N near Sunrise Middle School, and the central trunk storm sewer project slated for later years.
The Kearney City Council adopted the city’s 1‑and‑6‑year street improvement plan after a public hearing and staff presentation from City Engineer Luke Dutcher.
Dutcher said the document lists projects the city intends to carry out in the coming year (2026) and in years two through six, and serves to show the state how the city is using highway allocation dollars. "This is a kind of just a way to to show the state how we're spending highway allocation dollars," Dutcher said.
Major projects highlighted for 2026 include reconstruction of Avenue A along the east side of Good Samaritan Hospital (from 30th Street First North to 30th Street Fifth) and a safety project at 40th Street and Avenue N near Sunrise Middle School. The intersection work will add a signal and a southbound left‑turn lane; Dutcher said the east side will be widened for that lane because the west side is a cemetery. He said pedestrian push buttons and marked crosswalks will be part of the signal project and that an existing pedestrian crossing in front of Sunrise Middle School would be relocated further north to avoid closely spaced signals. Dutcher said the project is under design with a goal to present construction plans this fall for work in summer 2026.
Dutcher described other items on the plan: Butler Avenue Place (a cul‑de‑sac to open lots for development), the Marlette Fourth project (noted as a Habitat for Humanity project using TIF), developer‑funded streets being accepted into the city system, and a central trunk storm sewer project that is under design and currently targeted for later years (staff indicated 2028 as the year the storm sewer would be brought forward for construction). He said the city is tracking several longer‑range projects — including a potential West interchange — for planning purposes.
During public comment resident Jacob, who lives at 2009 Fifth Avenue, asked why Avenue A’s width would remain the same and expressed concern that repaving could increase vehicle speeds and create pedestrian safety issues. "Is there a way to make it narrower at all?" Jacob asked. Dutcher and councilmembers discussed the tradeoffs, noting the design seeks to maintain a standard 36‑foot paving section and to preserve emergency access; Dutcher said the city would consider pedestrian‑friendly options and coordination with the school district.
Council voted to close the hearing and adopt Resolution No. 2025‑106. Roll call recorded Mayor Nicola, Schmidt, Straatman, Bushcutter and Moore voting "aye."
