What construction is planned for Omaha roads in 2026

There are multiple significant city and state road projects planned for this year, including the expansion of I-680 from Pacific to Dodge.

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Road construction is a sight Omaha drivers are all too familiar with.Right now, lots of construction is concentrated on city streets in Omaha’s urban core due to the streetcar project, but as the weather continues to warm up, construction everywhere is going to ramp up.Barbara Gerbino-Bevins is a construction engineer with the Nebraska Department of Transportation. The department handles road projects on highways and interstates.Bevins says there are three impactful projects on the books for this year, all of which start in April.Bevins says the most impactful project to the metro will be the expansion of Interstate 680. Starting in April, NDOT will add a lane in both directions on I-680 between Pacific and Dodge.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Future Interstate 680 makeover in Omaha During construction, which is expected to go on until November 2026, NDOT will open the shoulder up to traffic to mitigate backups on the interstate.”The real pain point is going to be at Pacific itself, because the two-lane ramps are going to reduce to one lane. Then (Pacific) will be one lane in each direction to do the work to this bridge,” Bevins said.The expansion of I-680 is one of the first steps in addressing one of the worst merge points in Omaha, where I-680 merges with the West Dodge Expressway.”Anyone who’s driven this corridor knows that (that) backs up every single day. This is the first in a series of projects to address that,” Bevins said.Work directly on the I-680 and West Dodge Expressway merge point is scheduled for 2028.Another NDOT project coming soon will be at Highway 275 and Highway 6.”This is one of our safety projects. We’re going to be installing a roundabout here,” Bevins said.That work will happen from April to July 2026, and it will involve a full closure of that intersection.Along Highway 75 between Hogantown Drive and Fairview Road, three bridge approaches will also go under construction in April.”The bridges just south of Capehart, the set of bridges over Capehart itself and the (bridge near Hogantown Drive) — there will be lane closures in both directions. It will be impactful,” Bevins said.The good news is that a few long-term NDOT projects will wrap up this year, such as those concerning 72nd and Highway 275 and I-480 over the Missouri River.As for city street construction, Omaha Public Works handles that. It says there are a few significant projects on the books.Austin Rowser, city engineer with Omaha Public Works, noted the following projects as significant: 33rd & Hamilton RoundaboutFort Street: 120th to Tranquility Park Entrance RoadNorth Ridge Drive Phase IISorensen/Storz Panel RepairRowser says a few long-term public works projects will wrap up: work at 72nd and F and 48th from Q to Harrison.Of course, the big city road project concerns the Omaha streetcar.Public works says Capitol and Douglas near Eighth and 10th streets, as well as Farnam near Turner Boulevard, will have extended impacts this year.”By the end of the year, we will see the utility projects nearing their end, a completed Farnam Street Bridge, and mainline track installed in the loop, on Harney from 10th moving west, and completed track in the Midtown Crossing area moving west into Blackstone,” Rowser said.If you have questions regarding construction projects, email our traffic reporter for answers at traffictogo@ketv.com.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

OMAHA, Neb. —

Road construction is a sight Omaha drivers are all too familiar with.

Right now, lots of construction is concentrated on city streets in Omaha’s urban core due to the streetcar project, but as the weather continues to warm up, construction everywhere is going to ramp up.

Barbara Gerbino-Bevins is a construction engineer with the Nebraska Department of Transportation. The department handles road projects on highways and interstates.

Bevins says there are three impactful projects on the books for this year, all of which start in April.

Bevins says the most impactful project to the metro will be the expansion of Interstate 680. Starting in April, NDOT will add a lane in both directions on I-680 between Pacific and Dodge.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Future Interstate 680 makeover in Omaha

During construction, which is expected to go on until November 2026, NDOT will open the shoulder up to traffic to mitigate backups on the interstate.

“The real pain point is going to be at Pacific itself, because the two-lane ramps are going to reduce to one lane. Then (Pacific) will be one lane in each direction to do the work to this bridge,” Bevins said.

The expansion of I-680 is one of the first steps in addressing one of the worst merge points in Omaha, where I-680 merges with the West Dodge Expressway.

“Anyone who’s driven this corridor knows that (that) backs up every single day. This is the first in a series of projects to address that,” Bevins said.

Work directly on the I-680 and West Dodge Expressway merge point is scheduled for 2028.

Another NDOT project coming soon will be at Highway 275 and Highway 6.

“This is one of our safety projects. We’re going to be installing a roundabout here,” Bevins said.

That work will happen from April to July 2026, and it will involve a full closure of that intersection.

Along Highway 75 between Hogantown Drive and Fairview Road, three bridge approaches will also go under construction in April.

“The bridges just south of Capehart, the set of bridges over Capehart itself and the (bridge near Hogantown Drive) — there will be lane closures in both directions. It will be impactful,” Bevins said.

The good news is that a few long-term NDOT projects will wrap up this year, such as those concerning 72nd and Highway 275 and I-480 over the Missouri River.

As for city street construction, Omaha Public Works handles that. It says there are a few significant projects on the books.

Austin Rowser, city engineer with Omaha Public Works, noted the following projects as significant:

Rowser says a few long-term public works projects will wrap up: work at 72nd and F and 48th from Q to Harrison.

Of course, the big city road project concerns the Omaha streetcar.

Public works says Capitol and Douglas near Eighth and 10th streets, as well as Farnam near Turner Boulevard, will have extended impacts this year.

“By the end of the year, we will see the utility projects nearing their end, a completed Farnam Street Bridge, and mainline track installed in the loop, on Harney from 10th moving west, and completed track in the Midtown Crossing area moving west into Blackstone,” Rowser said.

If you have questions regarding construction projects, email our traffic reporter for answers at traffictogo@ketv.com.