City Celebrates Highlands Neighborhood Street Improvements

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) Director Liz Elliott today announced the completion of the Lincoln on the Move West Highland Boulevard and West Fletcher Avenue improvement project.

"Through our community's investment in Lincoln on the Move, we are proud to deliver street improvements like this project that is helping children and families safely travel to and from Fredstrom Elementary School, connecting neighbors to nearby amenities, and enhancing mobility within northwest Lincoln," Mayor Gaylor Baird said.

Improvements to West Highland Boulevard and West Fletcher Avenue include a mill and overlay of the existing surface and base repairs where required, public utility adjustments, and inlet top and curb repairs or replacement. The project also reconstructed West Fletcher Avenue at the curve between Northwest 4th and Northwest 7th streets. Additional work with other funding sources included upgrades to the existing curb ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Approved by residents in 2019, Lincoln on the Move is a quarter-cent sales tax specifically for additional street investments. Since its inception, Lincoln on the Move has added nearly $78 million additional dollars to the City's overall street investments, resulting in over 162 lane miles of new and resurfaced streets.

Joining Mayor Gaylor Baird at the news conference were Liz Elliott, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Director; Dr. Olivia Bayer, Ascend Chiropractic owner and Highlands Neighborhood resident; Tom Meyer, Highlands Neighborhood resident; and City Councilmember Brodey Weber, who represents District 4 in Northwest Lincoln.

The 1.2 mile West Highland Boulevard and West Fletcher Avenue project cost nearly $2.3 million. Elliott said the West Highland Boulevard and West Fletcher Avenue Improvement Project is one of eight Lincoln on the Move that is being constructed in 2024, totaling a nearly $18 million in investments and nearly 27 miles of street work spread out across all four quadrants of the city.

Elliott said LTU connected with Fredstrom Elementary and Lincoln Public Schools officials to keep them updated on the project's progress and to minimize construction impacts.

"We offered meetings to businesses and mailed informational postcards to hundreds of residents and businesses in the area. Our team also held a public open house to help engage and prepare the neighborhood for this improvement project," Elliott said.

Dr. Bayer said that the project is important for those who live outside the community, in addition to residents and business owners in the Highlands.

"Ascend Chiropractic serves a large number of clients who come in from Raymond, Ceresco and other neighboring communities. The work that has been done on this project creates a welcoming environment for those individuals and allows them to better connect to businesses like mine," Dr. Bayer said.

Meyer expressed his gratitude for enhancements made on Fletcher Avenue, especially the improved banking on the curve between Northwest Seventh and Fourth streets.

"You can really feel the difference when you drive. The street is noticeably safer, smoother, and looks amazing. My neighbors and I are grateful for this Lincoln on the Move quarter-cent street improvement project," Meyer said.

Weber called the project area a vital perimeter around the Highlands Neighborhood that connects northwest Lincoln neighbors to schools, parks, businesses, churches and, ultimately, to each other.

"These streets form a vital perimeter around the Highlands Neighborhood, connecting northwest Lincoln residents to our schools, our parks, our businesses, our churches and, most importantly, to our neighbors," Weber said. "Thanks to voters approving the Lincoln on the Move initiative, the city is able to deliver on its promise to prioritize and improve our roads as our community grows."