OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Nebraska DOT is in the middle of a major project on West Dodge Road.

The Skyline Drive to 168th Street project includes four of five major intersections. Construction on the 168th and West Dodge bridge is creating a slight increase in traffic.

“We have constant lane closures on the westbound ramp to 168th, so they’re losing one of the left turn lanes there,” District 2 Civil Engineer Barbara Gerbino-Bevins said. “This caused some backups to be made, especially during rush hour.” Since there is only one lane on the exit ramp, traffic backs up and flows in long lanes.

But crews have measures in place to help keep the lanes flowing as best they can. Postponing similar work on the 180th Street bridge will allow construction to continue at 168th Street.

“The other way we mitigated is by doing extensive work overnight on these bridges and a bridge just east of 168th Street, starting at 7 p.m. and continuing until 6 a.m., and that worked out very well,” Gerbino-Bevins said.

Other delays include tweaks to erosion control and sidewalk repairs throughout the construction area. Even though these adjustments are taken into account, they still cause minor delays as the project progresses.

“Erosion control is not an exact science,” Gerbino-Bevins explained. “Sometimes when you put something in, it needs to be adjusted a little bit, but that will continue until the end of the project.”

NDOT district 2 is fully staffed, but crews are full due to other projects going on at the same time. This may place an increased workload on staff already in the field. Gerbino-Bevins says she needs to get extra help soon, as this part of the project nears its conclusion in November.

“There are three projects running day and night shifts, and that’s very encouraging,” Gerbino-Bevins said. “Their night work will be done from now on and this will give us great relief.”

NDOT crews in Fremont are providing them with extra assistance. Work on the 168th project is expected to be completed by the end of November. The next project is just up the street at 180th and West Dodge. Delays are expected to be similar to what we’re seeing now. The bridge work on the 180th should start in April and finish in July, weather conditions permitting.

The entire 204th and Skyline section of the major project has been completed. The other intersection in the region, 192nd Street, is undergoing a completely separate project and this project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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