This project began in the study phase with a traffic study to determine the impacts of the proposed Gallup Campus to the surrounding roadway network near the Omaha downtown area. Cuming Street was a four-lane one-way street at the time of the study and the City requested analysis with Cuming Street as a two-way street providing access directly to Omaha's North Freeway ramp system. With this scenario, Cuming Street would become the main route to Eppley Airport and would also serve as the most direct route to the interstate for the Gallup World Headquarters Campus as well as Omaha's new Arena Convention Center.

The traffic study began in 2000 and was completed in 2001. In early 2002, the City requested that Ehrhart Griffin & Associates/REGA Engineering Group begin design on the improvements required to make Cuming Street function as a five-lane two-way urban arterial roadway.

These design changes involved five new traffic signals, the geometric upgrading of 12 intersections and the overlay of a 12 block section of 60 foot wide roadway section. There was a two block long section which required realignment of the roadway to match lanes for two directional travel. Other geometric improvements included radius upgrades at each intersection and the construction of sidewalk ramps to meet ADA standards. The entire system also needed to be restriped to provide turn lane indicators for two-way travel as well as pedestrian crosswalk striping. This project was constructed under traffic with two lanes of traffic open at all times.

This project is a good example of Ehrhart Griffin & Associates/REGA Engineering Group’s involvement in a design from the initial concept and study stages all the way through the construction administration of the project. The construction on this particular project was based on an aggressive schedule which mandated closing of an existing roadway for demolition to complete the Riverfront Redevelopment package within the given timeframe. EGA/REGA worked aggressively with the contractor and held weekly meetings to keep the project on track. The construction was completed on time under budget and is presently serving traffic demands as the study indicated was needed.