Lancaster County is moving forward with planning and land acquisition for one of the largest infrastructure projects in the region—a 13-mile beltway that would reshape how traffic moves through the northeast side of Lincoln.
According to the Planning Commission’s September meeting minutes, right-of-way acquisition for the East Beltway is anticipated to begin in fiscal year 2027. The estimated total cost—covering land acquisition, engineering, and construction—is approximately $600 million. The project would connect the South Beltway to Interstate 80 on the northeast side of Lincoln.
Jena Vogt, Special Projects Engineer with Lancaster County Engineering, presented the project on behalf of County Engineer Pam Dingman at the September Planning Commission hearing. Vogt noted that planning for an eastern beltway and continuous roadway loop around Lincoln has a long history—but right-of-way acquisition is now on the near-term horizon.
No local funding in fiscal year 2027
Dingman’s office will have no locally funded capital improvement projects in fiscal year 2027, meaning the department will rely on federally funded projects during the fiscal year 2027 budget period…