Interstate 229 Exit 4 - Cliff Ave Reconstruction
Project Summary:
Years Two and Three: The project includes the reconstruction of exit 4 (Cliff Avenue) with added lighting, signals, and mainline Interstate work. The Interchange will be reconstructed as a Single Point Urban Interchange. This project includes two structure replacements. 41st Street will be realigned to intersect with the Lincoln High School entrance. Traffic signals will be added to the intersection of Cliff Avenue & 38th Street. Pedestrian mobility will be improved with a new trail, sidewalk, and access tunnels. The southbound I-229 lanes and structure will be constructed in 2025 and the northbound I-229 lanes and structure will be constructed in 2026.
Year One: This project includes the modification of the median crossovers with a temporary structure in preparation for the 2025 interchange reconstruction. This project also includes the temporary widening of Interstate 229 northbound.
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Project Updates:
May 22, 2026:
Beginning on Friday, May 29, 2026, the current two-way traffic configuration on Cliff Avenue between 41st Street and the Spencer Park access road will be switched from the two inside lanes to the two northbound lanes. Once this traffic switch is complete, motorists will no longer be able to make left turns from the southbound Interstate 229 off-ramp onto southbound Cliff Avenue. This will be in effect until later this fall when the new lanes on Cliff Avenue have been constructed.
Beginning on Monday, June 8, 2026, Cliff Avenue will be closed south of the existing southbound I-229 ramps to the Spencer Park access road. The closure is anticipated to last one week, weather permitting. The contractor will be installing sanitary sewer main along Cliff Avenue south of the bridge.
Motorists are reminded to use caution and reduce their speed while workers and equipment are present.
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May 20, 2026:
Anticipated work in June 2026: June will be a busy period with continued grading, retaining wall construction, sanitary sewer installation, and bridge work. The grading contractor will continue work on the west half of northbound Interstate 229. The retaining wall contractor plans to construct a 650-foot mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall along the south side of the northbound on-ramp, followed by a 180-foot MSE wall between the northbound on-ramp and the interstate. Sanitary sewer installation will take place along Cliff Avenue. Bridge crews plan to drive piles and construct both northbound bridge bents.
Completed work in May 2026: Work during May focused primarily on removals and grading. Contractors removed the northbound Interstate 229 bridge, followed by temporary sheet piling used to protect existing infrastructure. Crews also demolished and crushed the concrete pavement along northbound Interstate 229, converting it into processed subgrade topping (PST) for use in the subbase.
Approximately half of the mainline interstate northeast of Cliff Avenue has been graded. Contractors also completed excavation for a large-panel MSE wall near the northbound on-ramp at Exit 4, as well as for one of the northbound Interstate 229 column footings. In addition, storm sewer was installed crossing Interstate 229 along the north half of the project.
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