NDOT Plans US-75 Ramp Reopening Ahead of August Air Show
NDOT Plans US-75 Ramp Reopening Ahead of August Air Show
The southbound entrance ramp from Capehart Road onto U.S. Highway 75 / Kennedy Freeway is expected to reopen before thousands of visitors arrive in Bellevue for the Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show at Offutt Air Force Base this August.
According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), work on the US-75 Bridges, Bellevue Phase 2 project is being completed one side of the highway at a time, beginning with the southbound lanes. The agency said the southbound portion of the project is expected to be completed before Aug. 8, allowing the currently closed southbound Capehart Road on-ramp to reopen ahead of the air show.
The timing is significant because the Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show, scheduled for Aug. 8-9, is expected to bring large crowds to Bellevue and Offutt Air Force Base. The free event is being held in celebration of America’s 250th birthday and will feature military aircraft demonstrations, aviation exhibits and historical displays.
Offutt officials also announced this week that the U.S. Air Force F-35A Demonstration Team will serve as the headlining aerial performer for the event. The F-35A Lightning II is the Air Force’s most advanced multirole fighter aircraft and is known for its high-speed maneuverability and combat capabilities.
Once the air show concludes, NDOT plans to shift construction activities to the northbound side of US-75, where additional bridge repairs will continue.
The larger project involves repairs to six bridges (three northbound, three southbound) along approximately 2.5 miles of US-75 between mile markers 80 and 82.5 in Sarpy County. Work includes bridge repairs, pavement improvements, culvert work, grading, replacement of approach slabs and guardrail upgrades.
The project includes bridges over Big Papillion Creek, Capehart Road, and the Mud Creek/Union Pacific Railroad corridor near South 15th Street and Hogantown Drive.
Construction began earlier this year and is expected to continue through Winter 2026. Traffic is being maintained throughout the project with lane restrictions and temporary traffic control devices.
The project is funded through a combination of federal and state transportation dollars and carries an estimated cost of approximately $4.4 million.
