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[brad2971]

https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-ricketts-dept-transportation-celebrate-latest-completion-heartland-expressway

This latest section that was dedicated completes the upgrade to four-lane expressway on US 385 from Alliance to the N-62A Link east of Minatare. The next part, which should be done within the next 2-3 years, is on N-62A link and US 26 from US 385 west to the current end of the four-lane expressway on the west side of Minatare.

Going forward, numbering the Heartland Expressway gets a little more interesting. Would SDDOT, CDOT, and Nebraska DOT consider the idea of renumbering the entire planned route from Rapid City to Limon as US 385, or, given that significant stretches of current US 385 are NOT on the Heartland Expressway route, would those three states' DOTs consider the idea of giving the Heartland Expressway its own number?

[SD Mapman]

I mean, the only states that have worked on it are SD and NE. CO doesn't seem to care (having been on CO 71, upgrading it would be really easy since there's nothing there, but there's also nothing there to upgrade for (traffic didn't seem too heavy)). SD upgraded it to four lanes all the way to the NE border, even though NE thought it was going to be 2-lane south of Hot Springs (see page 3 of this document). So what we have right now (and this'll probably stay this way unless the politicians in power change (i.e. someone from Eastern CO or the Panhandle becomes governor)) is nice 70-mph 4-lane road from Rapid to the SD-NE border, 2-lane from the border to Alliance, 4-lane from Alliance to Kimball, and 2-lane the rest of the way. Since it's probably not ever going to be a cohesive route, it doesn't necessitate a singular number. In the NE/CO part, the route follows MSR 71, but that goes north from Scottsbluff/Gering while the expressway route heads east.

[splashflash]

I mean, the only states that have worked on it are SD and NE. CO doesn't seem to care (having been on CO 71, upgrading it would be really easy since there's nothing there, but there's also nothing there to upgrade for (traffic didn't seem too heavy)). SD upgraded it to four lanes all the way to the NE border, even though NE thought it was going to be 2-lane south of Hot Springs (see page 3 of this document). So what we have right now (and this'll probably stay this way unless the politicians in power change (i.e. someone from Eastern CO or the Panhandle becomes governor)) is nice 70-mph 4-lane road from Rapid to the SD-NE border, 2-lane from the border to Alliance, 4-lane from Alliance to Kimball, and 2-lane the rest of the way. Since it's probably not ever going to be a cohesive route, it doesn't necessitate a singular number. In the NE/CO part, the route follows MSR 71, but that goes north from Scottsbluff/Gering while the expressway route heads east.

The route is pretty good in SD and the new asphalt lanes between Alliance and L62A are great.  Maybe thses states could continue the US 400 series, but this one odd, maybe US 411?   

[brad2971]

I mean, the only states that have worked on it are SD and NE. CO doesn't seem to care (having been on CO 71, upgrading it would be really easy since there's nothing there, but there's also nothing there to upgrade for (traffic didn't seem too heavy)). SD upgraded it to four lanes all the way to the NE border, even though NE thought it was going to be 2-lane south of Hot Springs (see page 3 of this document). So what we have right now (and this'll probably stay this way unless the politicians in power change (i.e. someone from Eastern CO or the Panhandle becomes governor)) is nice 70-mph 4-lane road from Rapid to the SD-NE border, 2-lane from the border to Alliance, 4-lane from Alliance to Kimball, and 2-lane the rest of the way. Since it's probably not ever going to be a cohesive route, it doesn't necessitate a singular number. In the NE/CO part, the route follows MSR 71, but that goes north from Scottsbluff/Gering while the expressway route heads east.

The route is pretty good in SD and the new asphalt lanes between Alliance and L62A are great.  Maybe thses states could continue the US 400 series, but this one odd, maybe US 411?   

I'm thinking US 485, which would be a child of its parent US 85.

[splashflash]

Local newspaper articles on the segments around Alluance:

https://starherald.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/residents-learn-more-about-proposed-expressway-route-near-minatare/article_41c5bf84-308b-11ed-9d94-bbd94c9d1bc9.html

The project in question, Minatare – US-385, involves renovating and expanding a stretch of highway 18.19 miles long. The project is part of the long-awaited Heartland Expressway.

This would extend along Highway 26 from just east of Minatare to the connection with Highway 385 in Morrill County.

The roadway would be almost identical to the current highway, with 12-foot lanes and a 54-foot culvert between the eastbound and westbound lanes. The new lanes would be built in a “two plus two”  design, either due north or due south of the existing two-lane route.

Another public meeting is scheduled in approximately one year. If everything goes to plan, construction will begin in 2025.


https://starherald.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/open-for-business-segment-of-heartland-expressway-officially-dedicated-on-monday/article_31bb476c-50b6-11ed-a861-47709748ea8f.html


“They say that everything comes to him or her that waits,”  he said. “Twenty-eight years. Twenty-eight years ago, we got the corridor development plan outlining the benefits that a four-lane divided highway from the front range of Colorado to Rapid City would provide.”

[SD Mapman]

This would extend along Highway 26 from just east of Minatare to the connection with Highway 385 in Morrill County.

Funnily enough, it's not actually US 26, as that turns and goes south of the North Platte to Bridgeport. The road in question is L62A, which makes it kind of confusing for through traffic on that route.

[splashflash]

This would extend along Highway 26 from just east of Minatare to the connection with Highway 385 in Morrill County.

Funnily enough, it's not actually US 26, as that turns and goes south of the North Platte to Bridgeport. The road in question is L62A, which makes it kind of confusing for through traffic on that route.

Indeed.  Perhaps the US 485 designation suggested by brad2971 would do the trick and simplify things, though 71 in Colorado and Nebraska lines up nicely north and south of where the Heartland Expressway makes a jog.  Maybe duplex the route naming through there?

[SD Mapman]

This would extend along Highway 26 from just east of Minatare to the connection with Highway 385 in Morrill County.

Funnily enough, it's not actually US 26, as that turns and goes south of the North Platte to Bridgeport. The road in question is L62A, which makes it kind of confusing for through traffic on that route.

Indeed.  Perhaps the US 485 designation suggested by brad2971 would do the trick and simplify things, though 71 in Colorado and Nebraska lines up nicely north and south of where the Heartland Expressway makes a jog.  Maybe duplex the route naming through there?

Just to be clear, are you suggesting removing 71 from the SD/north of Scottsbluff portion and duplexing it with 26/385? The SD part is already SD 79 the whole way, but there's an existing N-79 over in Saunders County.

[splashflash]

This would extend along Highway 26 from just east of Minatare to the connection with Highway 385 in Morrill County.

Funnily enough, it's not actually US 26, as that turns and goes south of the North Platte to Bridgeport. The road in question is L62A, which makes it kind of confusing for through traffic on that route.

Indeed.  Perhaps the US 485 designation suggested by brad2971 would do the trick and simplify things, though 71 in Colorado and Nebraska lines up nicely north and south of where the Heartland Expressway makes a jog.  Maybe duplex the route naming through there?

Just to be clear, are you suggesting removing 71 from the SD/north of Scottsbluff portion and duplexing it with 26/385? The SD part is already SD 79 the whole way, but there's an existing N-79 over in Saunders County.

Duplex 71 to Brush, CO, and perhaps Limon, CO with US 485.  Then duplex with US 26 east from Scottsbluff to Minatare to junction of L26A.   In place of L26A signage would be US 485.

[SD Mapman]

This would extend along Highway 26 from just east of Minatare to the connection with Highway 385 in Morrill County.

Funnily enough, it's not actually US 26, as that turns and goes south of the North Platte to Bridgeport. The road in question is L62A, which makes it kind of confusing for through traffic on that route.

Indeed.  Perhaps the US 485 designation suggested by brad2971 would do the trick and simplify things, though 71 in Colorado and Nebraska lines up nicely north and south of where the Heartland Expressway makes a jog.  Maybe duplex the route naming through there?

Just to be clear, are you suggesting removing 71 from the SD/north of Scottsbluff portion and duplexing it with 26/385? The SD part is already SD 79 the whole way, but there's an existing N-79 over in Saunders County.

Duplex 71 to Brush, CO, and perhaps Limon, CO with US 485.  Then duplex with US 26 east from Scottsbluff to Minatare to junction of L26A.   In place of L26A signage would be US 485.

Oh, I see what you're saying.