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Interstate 480 (abbreviated I-480) is a loop highway that connects downtown Omaha, Nebraska (at a junction with Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 75) with Council Bluffs, Iowa at a junction with Interstate 29. The entire length of I-480 is a short 4.9 miles. U.S. Route 6 runs jointly with I-480 for a short distance, from Council Bluffs across the Missouri River.
The portion in Nebraska is called the "Gerald R. Ford Freeway" after the Omaha native son President. It passes near the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens. The girder bridge across the Missouri River completed in 1966 replaced the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge which was the first road bridge across the river connecting the two cities.
In 1999, a bill in the United States House of Representatives would have extended I-480 south along US 75 in southern Omaha and Bellevue, then east through Plattsmouth to connect with Interstate 29 near Glenwood, Iowa, increasing the length of the I-480 to 19 miles. However, this bill never advanced out of committee; instead, the states of Nebraska and Iowa have begun work on a plan to build two bridges across the Missouri River .
[edit] History
In the late 1950s the construction of what was then referred to as Route 3 was highly controversial. It conveniently crossed through the western and northern edges of Downtown Omaha, two areas city leaders had considered "blighted" since the 1930s. The heavily Catholic, ethnic European neighborhoods the route went through rallied against the demolition of their homes, and the city's parks advocates provided resistance as well.[3] Eventually the Interstate planners won out, and the city's historic Jefferson Square was demolished, as well as dozens of homes along the route.[4]
[edit] Future
As of 2005, the Nebraska Department of Roads began a project to bring the I-480/US 75 interchange up to Interstate standards. Construction is expected to be complete in 2009.
[edit] Exit list
County |
Location |
Mile |
# |
Destinations |
Notes |
Douglas |
Omaha |
|
|
US 75 South (Kennedy Freeway) – Offutt AFB |
Southbound exit and northbound entrance |
|
|
I-80 East – Des Moines |
Southbound exit and northbound entrance |
|
452C |
I-80 West – Lincoln |
Southbound exit and northbound entrance |
|
1A |
Martha Street |
Former Hwy 38 |
|
1B |
Leavenworth Street |
Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
|
2A |
Harney Street, Dodge Street |
To US 6, Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
|
2B |
30th Street, Dodge Street |
To US 6 No northbound exit |
|
2C |
US 75 north (North Freeway) – Creighton University, Qwest Center Omaha, Eppley Airfield |
North end of US-75 overlap |
|
2D |
Capitol Avenue, 20th Street – Omaha Civic Auditorium |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
|
3 |
14th Street - Qwest Center Omaha, Old Market District, Creighton University |
Signed as exit 3A eastbound |
|
4 |
US 6 west (Dodge Street) – Qwest Center Omaha, Eppley Airfield, Carter Lake, Iowa |
West end of US-6 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
Bridge over the Missouri River to enter Iowa |
Pottawattamie |
Council Bluffs |
|
|
Dodge Park |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
|
1A-B |
I-29 to I-80 – Sioux City, Kansas City |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
|
|
2nd Avenue |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
|
|
US 6 east – Council Bluffs |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
[edit] References
[edit] External links