Interstate 80

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Interstate 80
I-80 at Link 25B / Exit 107 in Big Springs, Nebraska

Looking east at Interstate 80 from the exchange with Link 25B in Big Springs, Nebraska. - 04/22/2017

Interstate 80 is the longest Interstate highway in Nebraska, with just about 455 miles through the state. The highway parallels U.S. 30 west of Grand Island and U.S. 6 east of Grand Island. Beginning in San Francisco, California, I-80 crosses the Central Valley on its way to the Sierra Nevada. On the rain shadow side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, I-80 crosses the Great Basin states of Nevada and Utah before crossing the Equality State of Wyoming. East of Cheyenne, I-80 enters Nebraska near Pine Bluffs, serves Kimball, Sidney, Ogallala, and North Platte before following the Platte River east toward Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha. Interstate 80 in Nebraska is notable for its 25 safety rest areas, which are spaced about 35-50 miles apart and often offer tourist information.

Interstate 80 Nebraska Guides

East

Big Springs - 11 photos

Lincoln - 45 photos

Omaha - 74 photos

West

Omaha - 64 photos

Lincoln - 54 photos

Lincoln to Aurora - 45 photos

Grand Island to Kearney - 53 photos

Lexington to Gothenburg - 54 photos

North Platte to Ogallala - 45 photos

Big Springs to Sidney - 59 photos

Potter to Kimball and Pine Bluffs - 43 photos

Business Routes

Decommissioned - Sidney - U.S. 30, L-53B - 15 photos

Pine Bluffs - U.S. 30, L-53B - 13 photos

Construction on Interstate 80 in Nebraska began in 1957 near Gretna and was completed in 1974 near Sidney. The stretch between Lincoln and Omaha opened in August 1961.1 Another 40 miles of I-80, between Grand Island and Kearney, was completed following an opening ceremony held on August 20, 1963. This brought the total miles of Interstate Highway opened in Nebraska to approximately 130.2

With the completion of the 18 mile section between Giltner and Henderson, Interstate 80 provided a continuous freeway from North Platte east to Omaha. With Governor Frank Morrison participating among other state and area officials, a dedication ceremony took place for this stretch of I-80 on December 3, 1966.3 Due to the rapid rate of completion of I-80, Nebraska was the first state in the country to complete its mainline Interstate highway system (which consists entirely of I-80 and I-76).1

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

Interstate 80/U.S. 77 at the cloverleaf interchange with I-180/U.S. 34 in Lincoln. - 03/29/2016

The diamond interchange (Exit 403) joining Interstate 80 with N 27th Street at Lincoln opened to motorists by September 3, 1993. The exchange cost $7.2 million.4

Interstate 80 scenes
L-55B spurs 0.70 miles north from U.S. 6 to Lincoln Northwest High School along NW 48th Street. A diverging diamond interchange (DDI) joins the arterial with Interstate 80 at Exit 395.

L-55B spurs 0.70 miles north from U.S. 6 to Lincoln Northwest High School along NW 48th Street. A diverging diamond interchange (DDI) joins the arterial with Interstate 80 at Exit 395.

02/22/20

Interstate 80 runs along the Lincoln city limits east from Link 55K (NW 48th Street) before entering the capital city at the exchange with U.S. 77 (Homestead Expressway). U.S. 6 follows O Street to the south.

Interstate 80 runs along the Lincoln city limits east from Link 55K (NW 48th Street) before entering the capital city at the exchange with U.S. 77 (Homestead Expressway). U.S. 6 follows O Street to the south.

02/22/20

I-80 trailblazer formerly posted along Superior Street east ahead of N 27th Street in Lincoln.

I-80 trailblazer formerly posted along Superior Street east ahead of N 27th Street in Lincoln.

03/29/16

Giles Road stems south from Harrison Street to a parclo interchange (Exit 442) with Interstate 80 along the La Vista city line.
3 photos

Giles Road stems south from Harrison Street to a parclo interchange (Exit 442) with Interstate 80 along the La Vista city line.

06/18/15

84th Street meets Interstate 80 at a six-ramp parclo interchange (Exit 448) in Omaha.

84th Street meets Interstate 80 at a six-ramp parclo interchange (Exit 448) in Omaha.

03/29/16

84th Street north at the loop ramp for I-80 west toward Lincoln.

84th Street north at the loop ramp for I-80 west toward Lincoln.

03/29/16

A Union Pacific Railroad line parallels Interstate 80 just to the south from I-680 to I-480 in Omaha. Pictured here is the high level UP Railroad bridge spanning 84th Street south of the exchange with I-80.

A Union Pacific Railroad line parallels Interstate 80 just to the south from I-680 to I-480 in Omaha. Pictured here is the high level UP Railroad bridge spanning 84th Street south of the exchange with I-80.

03/29/16

42nd Street south at Interstate 80 by the Hanscom Park neighborhood in Omaha.
2 photos

42nd Street south at Interstate 80 by the Hanscom Park neighborhood in Omaha.

09/05/05

S 13th Street connects with Interstate 80 south from Downtown and the Dahlman neighborhood in Omaha.

S 13th Street connects with Interstate 80 south from Downtown and the Dahlman neighborhood in Omaha.

02/22/20

Interstate 80 heads east from S 13th Street across the Missouri River Bridge into Council Bluffs, Iowa. 13th Street continues to Henry Doorly Zoo.

Interstate 80 heads east from S 13th Street across the Missouri River Bridge into Council Bluffs, Iowa. 13th Street continues to Henry Doorly Zoo.

02/22/20

References:

  1. 50 Years of Interstate - Nebraska and the Nation. https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/1214/interstate-history-bk.pdf
  2. "40 Mile Link Will Open on Interstate." Sunday Journal and Star (Lincoln, Nebraska), August 18, 1963.
  3. "Interstate 80 Stretch to Open." Sunday Journal and Star (Lincoln, Nebraska), November 27, 1966.
  4. "New I-80 Interchange Ready for Fair, Football." Omaha World-Herald (NE) , August 27, 1993 .

Photo Credits:

Connect with:

Interstate 76Interstate 76
Interstate 180Interstate 180
U.S. 6U.S. 6
U.S. 30U.S. 30
U.S. 75U.S. 75
U.S. 77U.S. 77
U.S. 138U.S. 138

Page Updated Monday March 04, 2024.