Nebraska Department of Transportation Applauds Advancement of Two Local Government Transportation Projects
March 5, 2026 (Lincoln, Neb.) — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently signed grant agreements for two Nebraska infrastructure projects. The City of Beatrice and Lincoln County were both awarded 2024 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants, to advance critical transportation improvements in their communities.
The City of Beatrice’s Court Street Access and Safety Transformation Project
The City of Beatrice received a $21.4 million BUILD Grant for their Court Street Access and Safety Transformation (CAST) Initiative, which will reroute U.S. Highway 136 (US-136) from its current location on Court Street, one block south to Market Street. The project will also include the redevelopment of downtown Beatrice as a pedestrian-focused corridor. The rerouting of US-136 would allow the city to redevelop Court Street with increased safety, access and walkability for pedestrians while supporting economic growth and development of locally owned businesses.
Lincoln County Crossroads
Lincoln County was awarded a $750,000 BUILD Grant to conduct planning activities, including feasibility and engineering studies, environmental work, cost-benefit analysis, and community engagement. The project would explore development of an alternate route for freight traffic around North Platte and improve existing infrastructure to support local, regional and national trade routes through a thriving Lincoln County. The project will coordinate improvements to key North Platte corridors including the west Interstate 80 (I-80) interchange and U.S. Highway 83 (US-83) South Bypass, U.S. Highway 30 (US-30) North Bypass, and Buffalo Bill Road North emergency evacuation route.
“These projects reflect close focus on the unique transportation needs of individual communities across the state,” NDOT Director Vicki Kramer said. “From revitalizing a downtown corridor to advancing regional mobility, this crucial funding allows us to dig deeply into what each region needs to improve safety, strengthen connectivity, and support long-term development, that translates to lasting economic growth across Nebraska.”
Both BUILD grants for the City of Beatrice and Lincoln County will be managed by NDOT’s Infrastructure Hub (IHub). As of December 2025, the IHub has supported local agencies with the management of 21 awarded projects totaling more than $180 million in grants and congressional delegations.