Former Interstate 580 Nebraska

Interstate 580 Nebraska
Omaha, NE ↔ Storz Expressway – Omaha, NE•3.00 miles

Overview

Interstate 580 in Nebraska was designated along the North Freeway, which carries U.S. 75 north from I-480 outside Downtown Omaha to the Miller Park-Minne Lusa community. The North Freeway links I-480 with Eppley Airfield (OMA) and the North Omaha area.

Mileage by State

Nebraska3.00 mi

Data Sources

Application for the Establishment of I-580 submitted to AASHTO on May 14, 1976.

History

Omaha, NE - 1968
The North Freeway (later I-580 and U.S. 75) proposed from I-480 to Ames Avenue in 1968. The canceled West Freeway appears as well from Interstate 480 west to Saddle Creek Road. Ramps constructed at the I-480/North Freeway interchange for the incomplete West Freeway were dismantled during a often delayed project from 2005 to 2010.
Omaha, NE - 1980
Omaha Inset – 1980 Official Nebraska Highway Map. Interstate 580 was designated along the North Freeway from I-480 north to Lake Street but dropped before the freeway was completed.

I-580 was established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on July 13, 1976. Maps showed Interstate 580 signed on the North Freeway in the late 1970s and to 1983. Funding issues delayed completion of the route in 1980, and I-580 was removed from the Interstate Highway System because of the relatively high cost of upgrading portions of the North Freeway to Interstate standards.1

Origins of the North Freeway date back to 1954 when a $2.5 million north to south expressway was proposed to boost economic development and speed cattle to the Stockyards.2 1960s plans called for the route to extend north to Interstate 680 in the Florence area.3

Prolonged funding issues prompted the State Legislature to change the law to allow use of money for roads that were once a part of the Interstate system to help cover the costs of utility relocations needed for completion of the North Freeway in 1984.4 Additionally the North Freeway received a $6.2 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in December 1984 to put toward the $60 million estimated completion costs.5 With funding in place, the North Freeway was extended from Lake Street 1.5 miles north to A.V. Sorenson Parkway and 30th Street on November 15, 1988.6 The extension cost $57.5 million and was coupled with the Storz Expressway.7 The Storz Expressway opened on July 26, 1989 as a three mile long controlled access route from the North Freeway to Abbott Drive near Eppley Field. The $19.4 million roadway was funded by federal and city funds.7

U.S. 73 was routed northward along the North Freeway to Lake Street until December 6, 1984, when Nebraska and Iowa highway officials moved forward on a renumbering plan to truncate U.S. 73 southward to Winnebago, Nebraska. The former route was replaced by a shift in U.S. 75 westward from the Interstate 29 corridor leading north from Council Bluffs. This also eliminated a lengthy overlap between U.S. 73/75 from Winnebago to Dawson. The change was done in an effort to reduce motorist confusion and to slightly cut costs associated with maintaining at least 100 dual signs between Omaha and Dawson.8

North End U.S. 75 ‐ Storz Expressway – Omaha, NE

U.S. 75 North Freeway – North

US 75 north at Lake St - Omaha, NE

The Lake Street off-ramp was northernmost extent of Interstate 580, as the route was decommissioned before construction began along the North Freeway to 30th Street in 1984. 06/18/15

US 75 north at Lake St - Omaha, NE US 75 north at Storz Expwy - Omaha, NE US 75 north at Storz Expwy - Omaha, NE US 75 north at Sorensen Pkwy - Omaha, NE

U.S. 75 South at North Freeway

US 75 south at North Fwy - Omaha, NE

U.S. 75 south separates from 30th Street at the beginning of the North Freeway. 30th Street continues south parallel to the freeway as the historic alignment of U.S. 73. 06/18/15

US 75 south at North Fwy - Omaha, NE US 75 south at North Fwy - Omaha, NE

Storz Expressway West at U.S. 75 North Freeway

Storz Expwy west at US 75 - Omaha, NE

Storz Expressway travels west as a limited access route from 16th Street to the wye interchange with U.S. 75 (North Freeway). 09/04/05

Storz Expwy west at US 75 - Omaha, NE Storz Expwy west at US 75 - Omaha, NE Storz Expwy west at US 75 - Omaha, NE

Sorensen Parkway – East at U.S. 75 Storz Expressway

Sorensen Pkwy east at US 75 / Storz Expwy - Omaha, NE

Sorensen Parkway east at Arthur C. Storz Expressway and the entrance ramp for U.S. 75 (North Freeway) south. 03/30/16

South End Interstate 480 U.S. 75 ‐ Omaha, NE

U.S. 75 North Freeway – South at Interstate 480

US 75/North Fwy south at I-480 - Omaha, NE

U.S. 75 (North Freeway) passes through the diamond interchange with Lake Street one mile ahead of Interstate 480. The signed extent of Interstate 580 began at Lake Street. 09/05/05

US 75/North Fwy south at I-480 - Omaha, NE US 75/North Fwy south at I-480 - Omaha, NE US 75/North Fwy south at I-480 - Omaha, NE US 75/North Fwy south at I-480 - Omaha, NE

Interstate 480 West at U.S. 75 North Freeway

I-480 west at US 75/North Fwy - Omaha, NE

Passing by Creighton University, Interstate 480 turns southwest at the former end of I-580. Exit 2C departs next for the North Freeway to Eppley Field (OMA). Photo by Dale Sanderson (2001).

I-480 west at US 75/North Fwy - Omaha, NE I-480 west at US 75/North Fwy - Omaha, NE I-480 west at US 75/North Fwy - Omaha, NE I-480 west at US 75/North Fwy - Omaha, NE

Interstate 480 U.S. 75 North at North Freeway

I-480/US 75 north at North Fwy - Omaha, NE

I-480/U.S. 75 emerge from a below grade section of freeway and separate at the U.S. 6 (Douglas and Dodge Street) overpasses. The traffic pattern at the original interchange with the North Freeway defaulted the I-480 mainline onto U.S. 75 north. I-480 was eventually realigned through the middle of the rebuilt exchange with four overall lanes. 09/05/05

I-480/US 75 north at North Fwy - Omaha, NE I-480/US 75 north at North Fwy - Omaha, NE I-480/US 75 north at North Fwy - Omaha, NE I-480/US 75 north at North Fwy - Omaha, NE

References

  1. Neil Alexander Bratney
  2. "32 - Year Project Divided Community Is Freeway Progress? Some Still Unsure." Omaha World-Herald (NE), September 17, 1986.
  3. "Traffic Rolls to 30th and Fort Streets Freeway Is Seen as Boon for North Omaha." Omaha World-Herald (NE), November 16, 1988.
  4. "Utilities to Spend $3 Million In '84 on Path for Freeway." Omaha World-Herald (NE), December 10, 1983.
  5. "North Freeway Gets $6.2 Million Grant." Omaha World-Herald (NE), December 12, 1984.
  6. "North Freeway Is Now Open Past Lake St." Omaha World-Herald (NE), November 15, 1988
  7. "Two Down, One to Go In Northern Freeways." Omaha World-Herald (NE), July 25, 1989.
  8. "End of U.S. 73 Signs To End the Confusion." Omaha World-Herald (NE), December 7, 1984.
Updated November 4, 2020