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City to Further Study for Dodge Street "S" Curve
In the coming months, the City of Omaha will hire an engineer to further study the findings presented in the Destination Midtown traffic study for the Dodge Street "S" curve near Turner Park. The original study showed two alternatives for the curve. One option was to move the curve further to the east. Another option was to move the curve to the west. Moving the curve to the west would require encroachment on Turner Park for street expansion, and this concept was consequently eliminated.
The study includes the area where eastbound Dodge Street traffic connects to the one-way Douglas Street by way of a sharp s-shaped curve. Drivers traveling eastbound on Dodge Street encounter this curve at the end of a long, steep downgrade. The study confirmed that under current guidelines, the existing curve should have a design speed of approximately eighteen miles per hour. In this area, Dodge Street and Douglas Street are posted for thirty-five miles per hour. The reduction in speed often causes driver confusion and poses safety concerns, especially in adverse weather.
The City has allocated funding for an eight-month study for the engineering firm to examine the Destination Midtown study findings and provide additional recommendations. Part of the study will include preparation of an environmental impact assessment, which is required by the federal government for a project of this size. At the time, no construction plans have been finalized.
To learn more about the City of Omaha's Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the Dodge Street "S" Curve study contact Charlie Krajicek, City Engineer with the City of Omaha Public Works Department, at (402) 444-5226 or ckrajicek@ci.omaha.ne.us. To learn more about traffic issues identified during the Destination Midtown planning study visit the Destination Midtown Master Plan.