NDOT district 8 officials say preservation spending must keep pace to hold good road conditions

O'Neill — Nebraska Department of Transportation District 8 engineers told the State Highway Commission on June 27 that pavement condition in the north-central Nebraska district is generally strong but requires steady investment to avoid rapid deterioration.

Mark Kovar, District 8 engineer, told commissioners the district averages a Nebraska Serviceability Index of about 83 on a 0–100 scale, where values above 70 are considered “good.” He said the department uses the NSI, along with other measures, to estimate remaining service life and to prioritize resurfacing and preservation treatments.

Kovar said District 8 needs about $271 million over the next six years to reach the statewide NSI goal of 84.7; the district is currently funded at about $240 million for that same period. "At this level, our pavement conditions will deteriorate faster than we should allow," he said.

Nut graf: NDOT officials argued that keeping "good roads good" is cheaper than letting pavements decline and rebuilding later. Commission discussion and public comments during the district program hearing focused on specific local projects, routine maintenance problems and techniques NDOT is using to stretch preservation dollars.

Kovar outlined how the NSI is calculated from observable pavement distresses such as rutting, faulting and cracking. He said pavements near an NSI of 100 typically have 15–20 years of service life, while pavements near 70 have reached the end of optimal service life and need resurfacing.

Jason Lane, district construction engineer, reviewed the district's construction program for 2025. He said District 8 is managing about 20 construction projects worth roughly $86 million this season — a one-year record for the district — and that 12 projects were active at the time of the hearing. Lane said the district will resurface about 62 miles of state highway, apply microsurfacing to about 112 miles, and repair five bridges this season.

District staff highlighted several large projects completed or under way, including a bridge replacement near Valentine built with very large girders to preserve wildlife passage through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, a rehabilitation of roughly seven miles on Highway 11 north of Butte, and an urban reconstruction on West Fourth Street in Valentine. Lane said smaller but essential work, such as roadway striping, has become significantly more expensive — striping costs in recent years have more than doubled — and the district has updated specifications to improve retroreflectivity and extend striping life.

The district also described innovations it is deploying to reduce long-term costs, including cured-in-place culvert liners to extend service life without full replacement, and a higher-performance concrete mix developed with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for bridge decks.

During the public comment portion, local residents raised concerns about recurring pavement failures and rough segments. Scott Menish of O'Neill asked about chronic potholes and a rough segment through Nielly (phonetic), and Holt and Boyd County highway superintendent Gary Connet asked about restrictions and slide activity affecting local routes and bridges east and south of O'Neill. District staff said some locations are monitored and subject to geotechnical study and that larger replacements are programmed in future years. For example, the O'Neill southeast bridge replacements were scheduled in the district program for 2029.

Ending: NDOT officials said they will continue public outreach and finalize project lists for 2026 and beyond. The commission proceeded to consider separate agenda items and resolutions for specific corridor projects later in the session.