Date:

September 11, 2008

For More Information Contact:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831

Wayne Teten, Antelope Valley Project Manager, 441-8420

Mayor Chris Beutler today encouraged residents to take one of the bus or bicycle tours of Antelope Valley being offered next week. The Antelope Valley Project, the largest public works project in City history, is addressing flood management, traffic improvement and community revitalization in the core of the City.

“The pieces of the project are now coming together to make the vision a reality,” said Beutler. “We are now seeing the results of our investment in the new waterway, streets and neighborhood improvements. Hundreds of homes and businesses will soon be out of the floodplain. Antelope Valley is providing more recreational opportunities, businesses and services, research facilities and housing.”

On Thursday, September 18, a bus tour will begin with a presentation at 5:30 p.m.at Lincoln High School. On Saturday, September 20, a bike tour will be offered at 9 a.m. and bus tours will begin at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The Saturday tours begin with presentations at the Auld Recreation Center in Antelope Park. Space is limited and reservations are recommended. They can be made online at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: antelope) or by calling 458-5901.

The tour will include the following areas:

• Flood management - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed the waterway to “S” Street. By next year, it will run past a renovated Lewis Fields to a new “J” Street Bridge. The waterway is expected to be finished in 2009.



• Traffic improvements - Three legs of the Big “X” elevated roadway now span the railroad tracks, waterway and trail network, and work is under way on the east leg. The south leg was recently extended to Vine. When completed in 2010, the Big “X” will carry more than 85,000 vehicle trips per day.
  
  The signature “O” Street bridge opened earlier this month. The “J” Street bridge is scheduled to open in October, and new bridges on “N” and South streets will follow. Bridges completed include the ones on Military Road and “Y”, Vine, “Q” and “P” streets.



• Revitalization - In the largest revitalization project to date, Assurity Life Insurance Company will build its headquarters along the new roadway.


UNL is moving forward with expansion in the research and development corridor. This spring, the Nebraska Legislature approved the transformation of State Fair Park into the Nebraska Innovation Campus, which could represent $1 billion of new public and private economic investment. Work also is under way on the Physical Science and Nanomanufacturing Center, and historic Whittier Junior High will have new life as a center for energy and transportation initiatives.

The project includes several new and renovated park areas. The first to be completed was the 29-acre Fleming Fields Recreation and Sports Park. As the waterway moves south, additional park land has opened up for an expanded and renovated Trago Park, including a new sprayground. Union Plaza from “O” to “R” streets will be the centerpiece of the waterway, with fountains, art, an amphitheater and trails. A campaign has raised nearly 90 percent of the $4.6 million in donations needed for Union Plaza.

The projected cost of the Antelope Valley Project is about $246 million, with funding coming from local, state and federal sources. About 90 percent of that total has been spent or is under contract. This investment is expected to generate more than $1 billion in economic benefits.

The City’s partners in the Antelope Valley Project are the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District. More information on the Antelope Valley Project is available on the City Web site, lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: antelope).