Lincoln's 'Project O Street' Begins Preconstruction Downtown

The multi-phase construction project aims to improve a busy stretch of the city's core.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:20am

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen illustration depicting a busy downtown street scene with construction cones, pedestrians, and a coffee shop, conceptually representing the disruption and renewal of the Project O Street redevelopment.The disruptive but necessary construction of Lincoln's Project O Street aims to revitalize the city's bustling downtown core.Lincoln Today

Project O Street, the city of Lincoln's plan to revitalize a three-block area of downtown, has begun preconstruction work that will include tree removal and lane closures. The overall construction project is expected to last through the fall of 2027 and will replace aging infrastructure, repair streets and sidewalks, and install new amenities like outdoor dining areas.

Why it matters

As one of the busiest areas of Lincoln's downtown, the Project O Street improvements are aimed at enhancing the streetscape, supporting local businesses, and modernizing the city's core. The multi-year construction will bring disruptions, but city officials say they have a plan in place to minimize impacts.

The details

Preconstruction work has started, including tree removal and the closure of one westbound lane of O Street from 13th to 16th Streets. The full construction project, which will feature various road and sidewalk closures, is expected to last through the fall of 2027 and is part of a three-phase plan. The work will replace aging water mains, repair and resurface streets and sidewalks, and install new amenities like outdoor dining areas.

  • Preconstruction work, including tree removal, began on April 7, 2026 and will last around four days.
  • The full construction project on the three-block span is expected to continue through the fall of 2027.

The players

Lincoln Transportation and Utilities

The city department overseeing the Project O Street construction.

Jordan Jackson

The owner of Birria Boss, a restaurant located along the Project O Street construction zone.

Omar Attaie

The owner of Pita and Naan, another restaurant impacted by the construction project.

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What they’re saying

“My heart sunk a little bit. I just hope it's quick. We do have a mobile cart to move around if we need to. But the fact that we provide a pretty good product, I think people will stick around and come through.”

— Jordan Jackson, Owner, Birria Boss

“We're a little nervous. Once you start seeing orange cones on the street, you see construction. We've seen what happened before with 48th street, we see what's happening right now in Omaha with the rail car being installed. Things like that make us nervous. But we're impressed with what the city has done so far, and they have a really good plan in place.”

— Omar Attaie, Owner, Pita and Naan

What’s next

The city will be hosting an open house on Tuesday, April 9th from 4pm to 6pm at the Union Bank Place lobby where Lincoln Transportation and Utilities employees will be available to answer questions about the Project O Street construction.

The takeaway

While the multi-year Project O Street construction will bring disruptions to businesses and traffic in downtown Lincoln, city officials say they have a comprehensive plan in place to minimize impacts. The improvements aim to revitalize one of the busiest areas of the city's core by upgrading aging infrastructure, enhancing the streetscape, and supporting local commerce.