LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – With less than two weeks until Election Day, Lincoln voters will soon decide on a new stormwater bond proposal aimed at reducing flooding in the city.

The roughly $14 million bond will address flood-prone areas, building on the city’s previous efforts, including those around Holmes Lake and Antelope Valley.

“Over the years, our community has faced heavy rains and flooding,” said Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. “Thanks to careful planning and ongoing investment, we have managed to reduce the impact of these events.”

Lincoln residents have approved 15 stormwater bonds since 1977; this latest proposal would consider 20 projects, 19 of which would be new ventures.

Key areas of focus include the frequently flooded underpass at 48th Street and the Cornhusker, where several cars were stranded in high water last July.

“We saw two or three cars stranded there in July because the flood waters were so high they couldn’t get through the underpass under the railway,” Transport and Utilities Manager Liz Elliot said.

Other locations prone to flooding include the intersections at 10th and Park streets, 11th and Harrison, and 63rd and Aylesworth Avenue, each of which requires further study for comprehensive solutions. The proposed projects aim to remove 280 homes from the city’s floodplain, helping to reduce future flood risks.

Bond projects are expected to offer additional benefits beyond flood control, according to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Environmental and civil engineering professor Dr. “We know that the types of projects proposed in this bond issue will help reduce pollution in waterways, prevent erosion, protect aquatic habitats and generally improve water quality in Lincoln,” said Bruce Dvorak. .

Although the bond will span 20 years, the city plans to complete these projects within three to five years. Efforts will include improving sidewalk entrances, replacing street drainage, purchasing street sweepers and improving infrastructure along the edge of the city to prevent excess water from entering.

“Each area will be a little different because each area has its own unique challenges,” Director Elliot said. “…stormwater projects are generally smaller than a major street project.”

The projects depend on the general election results. If voters reject the bond, city officials say they will go back to the drawing board.

ours previous scope The city said the $13.9 million bond would be valid for 20 years and cost about 80 cents a month for the average home worth about $280,000.

To provide more information, the city will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, October 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. www.lincoln.ne.gov/Home.

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