Grand Island opens comment period for Broadwell Avenue viaduct

Grand Island opened a public-comment period Oct. 5 on a proposed viaduct that would carry Broadwell Avenue over Union Pacific tracks and close the Pine Street railroad crossing east of the avenue. Comments are due Nov. 4.

The proposal also calls for rebuilding the Broadwell Avenue and Second Street intersection to accommodate the change in elevation. KSNB reports that the project limits would run from just north of First Street to the northernmost intersection on Fourth Street. The station also reported city figures of more than 12,000 vehicles and 43 trains passing through the area each day.

Proposed street and crossing changes

The Pine Street crossing is an at-grade crossing, where road traffic crosses the tracks. Under the proposal, Broadwell Avenue would pass above the railroad, while the Pine Street crossing would close. KSNB reported that traffic flow on Second Street is expected to remain as it is now after the intersection reconstruction.

KSNB attributed to Senior Public Works Civil Engineer Tim Golka a statement that the Broadwell crossing had ranked among Nebraska’s top five for exposure for about 20 years. The ranking is an attributed statement; KSNB did not report underlying ranking data.

The city says possible effects during design and construction include land or house purchases, changes to access or parking, temporary vehicle and pedestrian detours, and construction noise. The final design footprint has not been established, and the city says affected property owners will be contacted once it is. The city does not anticipate impacts to historic properties and says an ADA-accessible shuttle would be provided during construction.

Comments, cost and schedule

Residents can comment through the city’s virtual open house or by email, phone or mail through Nov. 4. City staff are scheduled to answer questions at farmers markets on Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to noon, and Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The city says comments will inform design as it progresses through late 2027.

The city anticipates construction in 2029–2030. An approved Grand Island Area Metropolitan Planning Organization transportation program from May 2025 listed a $34.210 million project estimate: $27.368 million in the SFTY category and $6.842 million under Grand Island. That program said Grand Island’s listed amounts could decrease because Union Pacific was anticipated to provide part of the local match. The city’s October notice does not state a cost, and the program estimate does not establish a final cost or fully committed funding.

The 2025 program listed construction phases in 2028, earlier than the city’s later 2029–2030 anticipated construction window. The current public-input period is an opportunity to comment on a developing design; it is not a present construction or property-acquisition action.