Sarpy County to Begin Work on New Expressway
Sarpy County to Begin Work on New Expressway
Sarpy County is moving forward with its highly anticipated expressway project west of 10th Street to 42nd Street near Platteview Road. It represents the next frontier of growth in the fastest-growing county in the state.
Construction is expected to start this spring. Focused on increasing capacity and elevating the driver experience, the four-lane South Sarpy Expressway will offer an efficient, nonstop commute for east-west traffic. An interchange at 36th Street will allow north-south drivers to access the expressway via on and off ramps or continue over the expressway.
The county’s largely open southern region holds significant opportunity for development that could amount to billions in economic activity. A modern expressway, alongside other infrastructure investments, is essential to unlocking that potential.
“Sarpy County is once again paving new roads to transform the way drivers travel, this time in the southern corridor of the metro-area,” said Sarpy County Commissioner and Board Chair Don Kelly. “We’ve envisioned and workshopped this project for years – it’s a huge undertaking – and those efforts have paid off. We’re excited to get shovels in the dirt and start pouring concrete to improve the quality of life for residents, workers and business owners.”
Sarpy County is working with engineering firm HDR on the project design and Hawkins Construction Company as the Construction Manager/General Contractor. The county’s Board of Commissioners approved a contract on March 24 with Hawkins to set the guaranteed maximum price of construction at $62 million. The county budgeted for the project without raising the tax levy.
Sarpy County was the first organization in Nebraska to use the Construction Manager/General Contractor process for road construction after the Nebraska Legislature enacted the process in 2016. The approach streamlines operations, saving time and money.
“CM/GC delivery proved the right choice on the Connect Sarpy West Giles project, and we are thrilled to deploy it again on the South Sarpy Expressway in partnership with the county and HDR. Our team is ready and excited to delivery another successful project with huge economic impact,” said Chris Hawkins, President and CEO of Hawkins Construction Company.
The county expects the project to span two years with work occurring in phases.
“In a fast-growing county like Sarpy, strategic planning has a lasting impact on travel and economic development,” said County Engineer Zach Hergenrader. “Our team is excited to work with our partners on the expressway to ensure our road network meets current and future needs.”
The 10th Street to 42nd Street project is part of a long-term vision that connects U.S. Highway 75 near the Iowa border to Interstate 80 in Gretna. Segments of the expressway west of 42nd Street are not yet designed or funded.
Crews will begin grading to kick off construction this spring. The first phase of work also includes construction of a permanent frontage road that will support traffic as construction on the expressway advances. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained for the duration of the project.
For more information, visit connectsarpy.com.
