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Hastings Today
By the People, for the People
Nebraska Motorists Brace for Construction Season
Highway projects across the state will cause delays and detours for drivers starting next week.
Mar. 26, 2026 at 12:00am
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The Nebraska Department of Transportation has announced several major construction projects set to begin across the state on Monday, including a year-long project in downtown Red Cloud that will replace the brick-surfaced highways with concrete. Motorists will face detours, lane closures, and other disruptions as the state works to improve roads and bridges.
Why it matters
Highway construction is an annual headache for Nebraska drivers, but these projects are necessary to maintain and upgrade the state's transportation infrastructure. The Red Cloud project in particular will have a significant impact on travel in the region, with detours that will increase traffic through nearby towns.
The details
The Red Cloud project will reconstruct about a mile of US-281 and a quarter-mile of US-136, replacing the existing brick roads with new concrete pavement, sidewalks, lighting, and storm sewers. During construction, westbound US-136 traffic will be detoured north via Highway 78 and then west to Highway 10. Drivers on US-281 may choose to take Highway 4 either west to Highway 10 or east to Highway 78. Other projects starting Monday include work on Highway 4 east of Davenport, Highway 6 west of Hastings, and US-81 between McCool Junction and York.
- The Red Cloud project is expected to last more than a year.
- Work on Highway 4 east of Davenport is scheduled to begin on Monday.
- The Highway 6 project west of Hastings and the US-81 project between McCool Junction and York are also set to start on Monday.
- The Red Cloud open house to discuss construction details is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 from 4-7 PM.
- The Highway 6 project near Hastings is anticipated to be completed in May 2028.
The players
Nebraska Department of Transportation
The state agency responsible for maintaining and improving Nebraska's transportation infrastructure.
Vontz Paving, Inc.
The contractor for the Highway 4 project east of Davenport.
Werner Construction, Inc.
The contractor for the US-81 project between McCool Junction and York.
What’s next
The judge in the Red Cloud case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the construction project to proceed as planned.
The takeaway
While the upcoming construction season will be a headache for Nebraska drivers, these infrastructure projects are necessary to maintain and upgrade the state's roads and bridges. Motorists should plan ahead, expect delays, and be prepared to navigate detours in the coming months.
