2-23-2019 UPDATE: The Nebraska Department of Transportation has awarded a construction contract for the destroyed Highway 281 Bridge over the Niobrara River.

Contract Awarded For Highway 281 Bridge Work


STANTON - With major roadways and bridges opening up around Omaha, residents of Nebraska's more rural areas - like Boyd County and Stanton - are wondering why is there seems to be no urgency to fix their bridges.

Boyd County Sheriff Chuck Wrede says federal funds are available, but things are still taking way too long.

Only one bridge in all of Boyd County still stands. This has turned some daily commutes that used to be 10 mile trips into 100 mile trips. In fact, two West Holt High School Teachers have found it easier to park on one side of the bridge, walk across to a parked car on the other side, and take that car the rest of the way..

Teacher Ken Jensen says, "It would be nice to get at least one lane open for driving… but you gotta do what you gotta do"

The Highway 57 Bridge south of Stanton has a projected completion of sometime this fall, which worries local business owners..

Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District employee Lowell Schroeder says, "some businesses are down 40%."

The problems that come with losing bridges goes deeper than just economics and inconvenience… it could prove to be life or death.

Sheriff Wrede says he is concerned that they cannot get to the hospital in O'Neill in Emergency situations.

Sheriff Wrede says they haven't encountered issues with emergency response just yet, but just this week officials here in Stanton say they had had a rescue operation hampered by the loss of the bridge.