Traffic flows along Nebraska 2 and the new South Beltway, which opened in December. The interchange at the east end of the expressway was built to someday allow for new traffic lanes as part of the freeway loop around the city.
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The view from the South Beltway ramp onto southbound U.S. 77 near Saltillo Road.
Photos, videos: Building Lincoln's $352M South Beltway
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts waves as he departs the opening ceremony to ride along the new Lincoln South Beltway on Wednesday.
Minutes after Wednesday's opening ceremony, a car enters the South Beltway via U.S. 77.
John Selmer, director of Nebraska's Department of Transportation, speaks at the opening ceremony for the Lincoln South Beltway.
Gov. Pete Ricketts holds a commemorative plaque presented to government officials during an opening ceremony for the new Lincoln South Beltway on Wednesday.
Lincoln mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird (center) addresses a crowd of workers and dignitaries during an opening ceremony for the new beltway on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Lincoln South Beltway in Lincoln.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts speaks during an opening ceremony for the new beltway on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Lincoln South Beltway in Lincoln.
Chris Hawkins remarks on the hard work put in by Hawkins Construction employees to complete the South Beltway project months ahead of schedule.
A portion of Lincoln's new South Beltway intersection with U.S. 77 is photographed by a drone, just outside on Lincoln city limits on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. The South Beltway is currently set to open Dec. 14, which is six months earlier than expected. The 11-mile freeway is one of the city's largest construction projects to date.
Officials constructed an elaborate interchange where the beltway intersects with U.S. 77 and Saltillo Road. Included is a nearly half-mile ramp for traffic headed south toward Beatrice.
A portion of Lincoln's new South Beltway intersection with U.S. 77 is photographed by a drone, just outside on Lincoln city limits on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.
Construction crews continue to work on Lincoln's South Beltway, which is set to open in the coming weeks, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at South 68th Street Bridge in Lincoln.
Construction crews are wrapping up work on the South Beltway, which is expected to open to traffic Dec. 14.
Lincoln's South Beltway will open Dec. 14. Construction on the long-anticipated 11-mile freeway linking U.S. 77 and Nebraska 2 began in 2020.
Projects like the South Beltway helped to keep the construction sector growing since the onset of the pandemic.
LINCOLN, NEB. - 02/14/2022 - The construction of an interchange connecting South Beltway with Nebraska Highway 2 is seen in this photo taken on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Work continues to build an interchange at the east end of the new South Beltway this month. Developers point to the area where the current Nebraska 2 intersects with the beltway as a magnet for residential and business growth, but city leaders say expansion in that area is still years away.
Construction continues on the South Beltway at the future 82nd Street interchange in November.
Construction continues on the South Beltway on the east side of U.S. 77 on Nov. 17. Business representatives have hailed the impact that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill could have in Nebraska to repair highways and bridges.
Construction continues on the South Beltway southwest of 98th Street on Nov. 17. Business representatives have hailed the impact that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill could have in Nebraska to repair highways and bridges.
Construction continues on the South Beltway on the east side of U.S. 77 on Nov. 17. Nebraska set another record for low unemployment for the month.
Construction of the South Beltway proceeds in this photo from South 68th Street looking east on Wednesday.
The 68th Street interchange will initally be the only access point open in the middle of the South Beltway. Construction to complete interchanges at Jamaica Avenue and 82nd Street is expected to wrap up next year.
A new 68th Street bridge spans the South Beltway.
A new 68th Street bridge spans the South Beltway.
Construction of the South Beltway is seen in this photo taken from South 54th Street looking east on July 21.
Construction of the South Beltway is seen in this photo taken from South 68th Street looking west on Wednesday, July 21, 2021.
South 68th Street from Saltillo Road to Bennet Road reopened for traffic on Wednesday.
The new 68th Street bridge spans the South Beltway.
Oversized South Beltway bridge girders are being moved in this photo taken from the Mopac Trail bridge over North 27th Street on May 18.
Lincoln, NE - 5/12/2021 - Construction work continues on the flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln, NE - 5/12/2021 - An overpass carries Saltillo Road over the South Beltway on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway stretches to the southwest as construction work continues on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
Lincoln, NE - 5/12/2021 - The flyover bridge that will connect U.S. 77 to the South Beltway stretches to the southwest as construction work continues on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln, NE - 10/9/2020 - Hawks Construction COO Chris Hawkins shows the transaction and pricing documents for the Lincoln South Beltway at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln, NE - 10/9/2020 - Lincoln mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird speaks at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln, NE - 10/9/2020 - Construction of the Lincoln South Beltway continues near U.S. 77 south of Saltillo Road on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Lincoln, NE - 10/9/2020 - Gov. Pete Ricketts (L) listens as Rep. Jeff Fortenberry is introduced by Sen. Deb Fischer at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry speaks at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Oct. 8.
Sen. Deb Fischer speaks at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Oct. 8.
Lincoln, NE - 10/9/2020 - Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (L) and Sen. Deb Fischer listen to Gov. Pete Ricketts at an event to celebrate the progress made on construction of the Lincoln South Beltway on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Curt Mueting, a district construction engineer with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, said project managers meet weekly to update a rolling three-week outline of deadlines to keep South Beltway construction on schedule.
Crews have completed significant work on a roundabout at the intersection of Saltillo Road and South 14th Street that is a part of the South Beltway project.
To allow crews to build a new Saltillo Road interchange, Saltillo Road will be diverted onto a temporary road linking to a new intersection with U.S. 77.
Workers dig into the ground near 98th Street and Saltillo Road, where the South Beltway will pass under a bridge to be built for Saltillo Road traffic.
Crews are at work building the South Beltway interchange with U.S. 77. Work is shown looking east from just south of Saltillo Road.
Crews are at work building the South Beltway interchange with U.S. 77. Work is shown looking east from just south of Saltillo Road.
Construction on the South Beltway (shown looking south) has focused on the interchange with U.S. 77 southwest of Lincoln. The work has closed the northbound lanes of U.S. 77 in the area.
Lincoln, NE - 6/29/2020 - Construction for the South Beltway keeps South 68th Street closed south of Saltillo Road on Monday, June 29, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
