Interstate 180 Nebraska

Interstate 180 Nebraska
Lincoln, NE•3.18 miles

Overview

Memorial Stadium - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Memorial Stadium is located to the east of Interstate 180 off of 10th Street in Lincoln. 03/29/16

Interstate 180 connects I-80 with Downtown Lincoln, the state capitol and the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The freeway spur doubles as U.S. 34, which ties into the north end from Woodlawn. Exit numbers along the route increase southward from Interstate 80.

Taking place over the course of three days in Spring 2018, the I-180/I-80 Interchange Signing project installed new overhead sign structures along both I-80 and Interstate 180 in Lincoln. New signs however were not updated to show the overlap of U.S. 77 along I-80.

Mileage by State

Nebraska3.18 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

Interstate 180 opened south from I-80 to Oak Street, which connected with Cornhusker Highway by August 1963. An interchange was also added along Cornhusker Highway (U.S. 6/34/77) at N 14th Street near the original Nebraska Fair Grounds (Sunday Journal and Star, 1963a).

Lincoln, NE - 1962
Interstate 180 under construction in 1962. The six ramp parclo interchange between I-180 and Cornhusker Highway (Exit 1) was reconfigured to include two southbound off-ramps and a distributor roadway along northbound. Cornhusker Highway is the former route of U.S. 34 west from U.S. 6 at Belmont.

Spanning 16 railroad tracks, the south end of Interstate 180 originally split between a 1,233 foot long viaduct southbound to 9th Street and a 1,152 foot long viaduct northbound from 10th Street. Costing $1.095 million, the bridge system's superstructure comprised 1,045 tons of steel. They were scheduled to open in mid December 1963 (Sunday Journal and Star, 1963b). I-180 leading south into Downtown Lincoln was completed by year's end (Sunday Journal and Star, 1963c). The northbound bridge system was incomplete until January 1964 (Budig, 1964).

Completion of the Lincoln Interstate Spur in 1964 (NDOR, 2006) accelerated development of the adjacent Belmont community. Around 200 acres were developed with residential properties from 1954 to 1964, with another 400 purchased by builder Karl Witt. Additionally eight properties along I-180 were purchased by the city of Lincoln and Lancaster County for a mile long park at Belmont (Sunday Journal and Star, 1963d). Later named Max E. Roper Park, the linear parkland stretches north along I-180 from Cornhusker Highway to Superior Street.

The southern 1.2 miles of Interstate 180, including the viaducts at 9th and 10th Streets, were rebuilt during a $15 million project. The southbound bridge system closed to traffic on December 1, 1996, allowing the contractor, Hawkins Construction, to tear down and replace the 33 year old structure (Robb, 1995). Road crews completed work on the southbound roadway 61 days ahead of schedule, netting the contractor a $1.22 million bonus. I-180 south reopened on the evening of June 10, 1997 (Lincoln Journal Star, 1997).

Construction to tear down and replace the I-180 northbound viaduct from 10th Street commenced November 16, 1997. Work was expected to take 266 days, ending on August 8, 1998 (Harrell, 1997). Hawkins Construction completed the project 72 days ahead of schedule, netting the contractor an extra $1.4 million. Lincoln Mayor Mike Johanns cut the ribbon at a ceremony held May 28, 1998 to reopen I-180 northbound (Laukaitis, 1998).

North End Interstate 80 U.S. 34 U.S. 77 ‐ Lincoln, NE

Interstate 180 North U.S. 34 West at Interstate 80 U.S. 77

I-180/US 34 north at I-80/US 77 - Lincoln, NE

Exit 1 leaves I-180/U.S. 34 north for Superior Street and the Belmont community of Lincoln one quarter mile south of the cloverleaf interchange with I-80/U.S. 77. Photo by Peter Johnson (06/21/20).

I-180/US 34 north at I-80/US 77 - Lincoln, NE I-180/US 34 north at I-80/US 77 - Lincoln, NE I-180/US 34 north at I-80/US 77 - Lincoln, NE

U.S. 34 East at Interstate 180 Interstate 80 U.S. 77

US 34 east at I-80/180 - Lincoln, NE

Curving southward from the Fallbrook community, U.S. 34 (Purple Heart Highway) intersects Fletcher Avenue on the one mile approach to I-80/U.S. 77 and I-180 south. 02/22/20

US 34 east at I-80/180 - Lincoln, NE I-180/US 34 south at I-80/US 77 - Lincoln, NE I-180/US 34 south at I-80/US 77 - Lincoln, NE

Interstate 80 East U.S. 77 North at Interstate 180 U.S. 34

I-80/US 77 east at I-180/US 34 - Lincoln, NE

I-80/U.S. 77 travel northeast between Lincoln Airport (LNK) and the West Lincoln community to the cloverleaf interchange (Exits 401A/B) with Interstate 180 south and U.S. 34. Photo by Peter Johnson (06/21/20).

I-80/US 77 east at I-180/US 34 - Lincoln, NE I-80/US 77 east at I-180/US 34 - Lincoln, NE

Interstate 80 West U.S. 77 South at Interstate 180 U.S. 34

I-80/US 77 west at I-180/US 34 - Lincoln, NE

I-80/U.S. 77 pass through suburban areas of north Lincoln from 27th Street southwest to Exit 401 with I-180 south and U.S. 34. 03/29/16

I-80/US 77 west at I-180/US 34 - Lincoln, NE I-80/US 77 west at I-180/US 34 - Lincoln, NE I-80/US 77 west at I-180/US 34 - Lincoln, NE I-80/US 77 west at I-180/US 34 - Lincoln, NE

North End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 180 North U.S. 34 West at Interstate 80 U.S. 77

I-180/US 34 north at I-180 - 2001

Button copy signs previously posted along I-180 north for I-80 and U.S. 34. Photo by Rich Piehl (05/01).

I-180/US 34 north at I-180 - 2001 I-180/US 34 north at I-180 - 2005

U.S. 34 East at Interstate 180 Interstate 80 U.S. 77

US 34 east at I-80/180 - 2007

The initial sign for the exchange joining U.S. 34 with I-80/180 posted after Fallbrook Boulevard was replaced in kind by 2019. Photo by Jeff Morrison (07/29/07).

US 34 east at I-80/180 - 2007 I-180/US 34 south at I-80/US 77 - 2016 I-180/US 34 south at I-80/US 77 - 2016

Interstate 80 East U.S. 77 North at Interstate 180 U.S. 34

I-80/US 77 east at I-180/US 34 - 2001

Interstate 80 east at I-180 and U.S. 34 prior to six lane expansion. Photo by Rich Piehl (05/01).

I-80/US 77 east at I-180/US 34 - 2001 I-80/US 77 east at I-180/US 34 - 2001

Interstate 80 West U.S. 77 South at Interstate 180 U.S. 34

I-80/US 77 west at I-180/US 34 - 2005

Button copy sign for I-180 and U.S. 34 posted ahead of the original N 14th Street overpass. 09/05/05

I-80/US 77 west at I-180/US 34 - 2005 I-80/US 77 west at I-180/US 34 - 2005 I-80/US 77 west at I-180/US 34 - 2005

South End U.S. 34 / 9th and 10th Streets ‐ Lincoln, NE

Interstate 180 South U.S. 34 East

I-180/US 34 south at N 9th St - Lincoln, NE

I-180/U.S. 34 curve southeast by Hawmarket Park toward the Nebraska State Capitol and Downtown Lincoln. 03/29/16

I-180/US 34 south at N 9th St - Lincoln, NE I-180/US 34 south at N 9th St - Lincoln, NE I-180/US 34 south at N 9th St - Lincoln, NE

U.S. 34 at Interstate 180

US 34 east at 10th St - Lincoln, NE

O Street (old U.S. 6) advances east into Downtown Lincoln from a viaduct spanning Union Pacific Railroad lines, Pinnacle Arena Drive and Canopy Street. Eastbound U.S. 34 follows Street eat from 9th Street, with westbound taking 10th Street north to I-180. 03/29/16

US 34 east at 10th St - Lincoln, NE US 34 west at 10th St - Lincoln, NE US 34 west at P St - Lincoln, NE US 34 west at I-180 - Lincoln, NE US 34 west at I-180 - Lincoln, NE

References

  1. Interstate 180 Will Speed Fair Traffic. (1963, August 25). Sunday Journal and Star.
  2. From New North Entrance, a Different Look at Lincoln. (1963, June 23). Sunday Journal and Star.
  3. Chamber Reports Progress in 1963. (1963, December 29). Sunday Journal and Star.
  4. Budig, G. (1964, January 26). City Grows, Problems Too. Sunday Journal and Star.
  5. Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR). (2006). 50 Years of Interstate - Nebraska and the Nation. Retrieved from https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/bwgkpuzh/interstate-history-bk.pdf
  6. Interstate, New Building Interests Revive Belmont Dream. (1963, December 29). Sunday Journal and Star.
  7. Robb, J. (1995, December 13). Plans for I - 180 Rile Lincoln Store Owners Tourists, Sales May Be Lost in Rebuilding. Omaha World-Herald.
  8. I-180 reopens earlier than announced. (1997, June 11). Lincoln Journal Star.
  9. Harrell, A. (1997, November 12). Bridge building, Part II slated to begin Sunday. Lincoln Journal Star.
  10. Laukaitis, A. (1998, May 29). Workers end I-180 work months early. Lincoln Journal Star.
  11. Baughn, J. (n.d.). I180/US34 over BNSF/UPRR 064-376-W, Lancaster County, Nebraska. BridgeReports.com. Retrieved from http://bridgereports.com/1358952
  12. Baughn, J. (n.d.). I180/US34 over BNSF/UPRR 064-376-W, Lancaster County, Nebraska. BridgeReports.com. Retrieved from http://bridgereports.com/1358951
Updated June 22, 2022