Nebraska public safety and transportation officials are reminding fans of major traffic adjustments, route recommendations and safety measures ahead of the University of Nebraska football season opener Saturday against Ohio.
With multiple high-profile road construction projects underway across Lincoln and major incoming corridors, officials warned fans to expect delays and urged drivers to alter their traditional game day routes.
Lt. Eric Kauffman, Troop A Captain of the Nebraska State Patrol, said gameday safety will be a coordinated effort.
“Gameday traffic is a major team effort, from troopers, officers and deputies to engineers and road crews and every driver on the road,” Kauffman said. “So as gameday approaches, let’s work together to make a game plan and get every Husker to the game safely.”
Due to active work zones, state and local officials recommend that fans add 30 minutes to an hour on top of their planned travel time to ensure they arrive at Memorial Stadium on time.
Drivers coming from Omaha and the northeast have four options for exits, Lincoln Airport exit 399, 27th Street exit 403, 56th Street exit 405 and Waverly exit 408. Drivers coming from Omaha cannot take the downtown exit.
Drivers coming from the southeast should take Nebraska Parkway to South 84th Street to Old Cheney Road to 70th Street to Normal Boulevard
Fans coming in from the south should take U.S. 77 to Van Dorn Street to 10th Street to N Street to the Haymarket.
For western approaches, a major six-lane expansion project is underway between Pleasant Dale and Lincoln, featuring an eight-mile work zone with a reduced speed limit of 55 mph. Officials recommend taking Interstate 80 to the I-180 exit 401 to downtown Lincoln.
Thomas Shafer, assistant director for transportation at Lincoln Transportation and Utilities, said the city is ready to welcome thousands of Husker fans from across Nebraska.
“Saturday, when our streets come alive with great music, great food, friendly faces and high energy at the same time, one of our highest priorities is making sure that the fans and community members can safely get to and from the game,” Shafer said.
In downtown Lincoln, a mix of traffic cones, signs and adjusted traffic signal timings are meant to separate heavy pedestrian crowds from vehicle traffic.
A portion of O Street is closed between 12th and 16th streets due to ongoing water main replacement projects.
Fans have access to 18 parking garages and lots across downtown; pre-paid parking is available through Park and Go up to 30 minutes before kickoff. City-operated areas are credit card only with various garages and lots from $20 to $35.
UNL offers game day parking for $20 to $25 in campus lots and garages.
Alternatively, fans can use Zone 90 on the Passport parking app, which allows them to purchase an all-day metered stall for $15.
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol will monitor major arterials, utilize helicopter units and coordinate closely with local police and UNL security inside Memorial Stadium.
Officials emphasized that fines are doubled in active construction zones and asked fans to exercise patience, pack supplies like water for the warm weather and use navigation tools like Nebraska 511 or Waze to monitor real time delays.
Fans headed to Memorial Stadium on foot also may encounter construction.
Kortne Gosha, NU's chief commercial officer, told reporters Tuesday that fans heading to the stadium from the Haymarket, which encompasses about 40% of gameday traffic, will see several closed-off construction areas, but access to their normal gates shouldn't be hindered by construction work, Gosha said. The work is part of NU's $600 million Big Red Rebuild — a massive Memorial Stadium renovation that includes changing the East, West and South stadium seating, adding a new walkable concourse that would connect the entire stadium on the 100 and 200 levels, and other gameday upgrades that the University hopes will "help preserve its legacy for future generations."