Editorial

More than just arch will benefit from new I-80 exit at Kearney

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

The Great Platte River Road Archway is an outstanding tribute to the history of transportation in America. But there's one thing wrong. The archway near Kearney is hard to get to from the Interstate.

East-bound travelers on I-80 have to go all the way to the Minden exit before getting off and doubling back, while west-bound travelers must go to the Kearney exit before turning off to go back to the archway.

That's a pity, because 11 million vehicles pass under the arch each year. While many travelers marvel at the overhead attraction, most don't stop because it's not easy to get off and back on the Interstate.

But, at last, there's hope for easier access. That word came Saturday at the 100th Birthday Celebration for Frank B. Morrison, the late governor who inspired the archway idea. Two speakers at the event, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson and U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne, both spoke of legislation which would lead to creation of an Interstate 80 exit a mile east of the archway.

Both the Senate and the House have approved appropriations for the project. The amounts are vastly different -- $8 million in the Senate bill and $1.5 million in the House bill -- but there are hopes the differences can be worked out in conference committee. Michael Konz, editor of the Kearney Hub, told the Gazette this morning that the community is holding out hope that the project can get under way as early as 2007.

The benefit for Kearney would go far beyond the arch, Konz said. A second interchange would open the way for a bypass to Highway 40 north of Kearney. This would take the pressure off Second Avenue in Kearney, which is clogged with local traffic and vehicles exiting the Interstate. Showing the need for a second interchange, Konz said an application has already been filed for a large truck stop on the proposed exit route.

Morrison, who called McCook home, had the vision to inspire a monument to westward travel in America. At the celebration in his memory, it was encouraging to hear that present day lawmakers are striving to make the archway more accessible to the traveling public.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: