WEST POINT, Neb. -- After months of construction, a portion of Highway 275 is finally complete with a set of four lanes rather than two.

“With the four lane, it's easier because if you just weave a little bit at least you're just weaving in the same direction as the rest of the traffic,” Raheem Vardeman said, West Point resident. 

While the minimal portion has finally wrapped up, a majority of the highway still remains the same. This poses a safety risk for drivers.

“This was a long time coming,” said Josh Moenning, Norfolk Mayor. “You know,  this goes back to 1988 when the Nebraska expressway system was adopted.”

The finished section reaches from West Point, moving south to the Dodge County line. The original deadline reached all the way back to 2003.  

“That deadline often obviously slid a long time,” said Moenning. “But through the advocacy and pressure applied by Northeast Nebraskans over recent years, the project got new attention from the state.” 

A project that enhances the safety of thousands of people. 

“Honestly, I kind of like it better because, when it was just the two lanes, it kind of made it harder especially with the heavy blizzards and everything and heavy rain,” said Raheem Vardeman, West Point resident.

“The traffic fatality rate in Highway 275 counties through the two lane is 60 percent higher than it is in other counties,” Moenning said. “We lose people, as you know, every year to that dangerous stretch of highway.”

Moenning has served as an advocate for highway 275’s expansion for a long time while leading an interest group. He says he won’t stop until the full project is completed. 

“It’s frankly ridiculous in 2024 that Norfolk and other communities in northeast Nebraska are not connected,” Moenning said.  “We're going to continue to work hard to advocate that the job gets finished all the way to Norfolk.”