New Highway 30 roundabout in Kearney to partially open Thursday

KEARNEY, Neb. – A new roundabout near the University of Nebraska-Kearney campus will partially open Thursday after five months of construction. 

Phase two construction of the roundabout will allow detoured traffic on Highway 30 along the west edge of the UNK campus to return to the highway. 

According to a news release, access to University Village will now shift during the upcoming third phase.

University Drive South, the main entrance to the development, will close as crews remove the temporary roadway and connect the street to the new roundabout.

During this time, southbound traffic turns into University Drive South and access to Highway 30 from University Drive South will not be permitted.

Motorists can enter and exit University Village using Chancellors Ave, located just east of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. This traffic pattern will remain in place until mid-October.

The $3.48 million project is designed to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow, with lanes that can accommodate semi-trucks and oversized loads. Landscaping and finishing work are expected to wrap up by mid-November.

The project stems from a traffic study conducted by UNK, the Nebraska Department of Transportation and City of Kearney.

Funding includes approximately $1.57 million from UNK, $1.53 million from the state and $380,000 from the city.