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Short Cut Cut Off

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State gates Interstate lane
Posted: 9:45 PM Oct 6, 2008
Last Updated: 4:21 AM Oct 7, 2008
Reporter: Mike McKnight
Email Address: mike.mcknight@wowt.com

19 comments

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A shortcut has been cutoff by the Nebraska Roads Department. One commuter wants to know why. Paul Price says “I didn’t see the big traffic blunders they are talking about”.

For years Price and many northbound drivers took the Center street lane onto Interstate 680. The main purpose of the lane is an exit at Center but it continued through to the interstate.

However, that created a merger at the on ramp from Center. State Roads construction engineer Marv Lech says that’s a safety problem. “It’s safer when you got less people crossing over in traffic”

So an extension of the Center street exit has been closed for good. A locked gate erected so in case of an accident the gate will be opened and traffic diverted through the northbound lane.

One driver doesn’t appear to agree with the move. The chain and lock have been broken and the gate pushed open.

The lock has been replaced and the shortcut will remain cutoff
permanently.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: To Bob on Oct 7, 2008 at 07:45 PM
Tough time at the store tonight, buddy? I didn't realize you were in a hurry.

Posted by: Jake on Oct 7, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Good. It needs to stay closed.

Posted by: LLR on Oct 7, 2008 at 02:45 PM
I always wondered what the problem was with that on-ramp. I didn't think there could be that many people trying to get on 680 northbound from Center and use that short-cut. Anything that slows down traffic along that stretch is OK by me. You people who think you don't have enough time to merge ought to try getting on 480 southbound at Martha at 4:30 in the afternoon and see how quick you can get to the far left lane to get to Offutt AFB. If I can do THAT, you can get by without your little shortcut.

Posted by: Wally on Oct 7, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Dumb move. Many people use that to get to the Pacific Street exit without entering the main traffic lanes. Now there will be more traffic and the potential for more accidents along that route. There is already a bottleneck there.

Posted by: Brian on Oct 7, 2008 at 01:02 PM
It is about time this route was cut-off. Anyone who has anything negative to say about it is likely one of the many who used that route to cut off all the people taking the proper route from 80 to 680. This should have been cut-off years ago

Posted by: B on Oct 7, 2008 at 11:00 AM
I used it, but it was a shortcut that did force you to "cut off" other drivers. I-680 North is safer now without it, even if it does add to some people's commute time. Suck it up, I'd rather have someone drive an extra 5 minutes than have someone hurt or killed in an accident because people are trying to merge.

Posted by: Bob on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Keith and Bonnie, if you have so much trouble with performing a difficult task like merging, maybe you should find a route that does not involve the interstate. Just be thankful you don't live in a city like Atlanta where you would be making those scary moves all the time.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Marv says something about avoiding "weaves" and "stop and go" traffic, but closing that is exactly what has been created. What an idiot!

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I found the shortcut to be a much safer option and it reduces the amount of traffic on the interstate in that particular area. Now, cars are backed up, people are fighting harder for position, and more accidents will occur. Not a smart move in my eyes. The traffic control cop just had to make a change to keep his job relevant. Too avoid merging problems, let's just reduce it the one lane and that will take care of it.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 09:07 AM
"Permanently" = until some other idiot who doesn't think laws apply to them because their time is more valuable than everybody else's breaks the lock and pushes it open again. They're going to have to put a camera there.

Posted by: Bob on Oct 7, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Paul, who cares that you have a 19 mile commute. Does that really make your time more valuable than anybody else's? I bet you are also the person standing at the back of a long line at a store that bolts for a newly opened checkout instead of letting the person in line that has been waiting the longest take their turn. You are the perfect example of what is wrong with today's society.

Posted by: Bonnie on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:16 AM
I don't buy the merger excuse. What about us that now have to go under the overpass heading north and want to exit at Pacific St? We are forced to jump a minimum of 2 lanes and sometimes 3 lanes plus worry about the northboud traffic right lane that must merge into the same lane I am trying to merge into. So you have 3 lanes of traffic trying to merge into one. Very dangerous every morning. I suggest Marv Lech travel this area ar 7:30A-8:00A on a workday!

Posted by: Concerned Driver on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:10 AM
I truly believe the traffic flow is better and safer since that ramp has been closed. It creates less jam at the Pacific exit allowing for better traffic movement.

Posted by: torn on Oct 7, 2008 at 07:29 AM
When traveling North bound, I have found it difficult at times to merge over and used the "shortcut" to continue on. It also helps overflow. On the other hand, when getting on at Center, I've almost had a semi run me down. (hey, not blind here, just that when you come up that ramp you yield, hit it, and the run is short that you don't always see a vehicle flying across it). I just hope they post signs far enough back. I'd hate to come up quick on the gate.

Posted by: Keith on Oct 7, 2008 at 01:26 AM
I used this "shortcut" all the time to get to the Pacific Street exit. Now I have to merge over 3 lanes in a short distance to get to the exit. Thanks, Marv Lech, for not caring about my safety!

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 6, 2008 at 11:43 PM
It should be closed. It created an unsafe merging scenario because cars using the short cut never obeyed the 50mph speed limit. It seemed like they were always going 70mph.

Posted by: Gen on Oct 6, 2008 at 11:25 PM
In July, my husband had someone ram into him on that area of the interstate(not on the center exit, but the main interstate),our van rolled,and was totaled, becasue too many people are trying to merge in all at the same time, and they are coming from all over the place. I'm just glad that he wore his seatbelt.

Posted by: tbuckley on Oct 6, 2008 at 11:04 PM
WHAT !!!!!! The State Roads construction engineer Marv Lech says that’s a safety problem. . They just recently noticed it... so NOW its a safety problem. Its only been that way for about a 100 years and NOW its a safety problem. Whatever !!!!! You guys are a real piece of work.

Posted by: Someone on Oct 6, 2008 at 10:09 PM
This has been closed for months. People should be used to it by now. Sure does make driving northbound feel safer and have less issue with merging traffic.