Work begins on Nebraska’s $36 million water pipeline linking Platte, Missouri River supplies
(UI) — Construction has started on a major piece of Lincoln’s Water 2.0 initiative, a long-term plan to secure a second water source for the city.
The project involves building a new 54- to 60-inch transmission main along North 98th Street, connecting the Northeast Pump Station at 98th Street and Alvo Road to the Vine Street Reservoir. The $36 million project, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, is expected to be finished in 2026, according to the city.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said the new transmission line will strengthen the city’s water system while also laying the groundwork for the future connection to a Missouri River wellfield and treatment plant.
“The 98th Street water transmission main will provide a crucial point of connection between Lincoln’s existing water supply and our future second source,” Gaylor Baird said. “This milestone in our Water 2.0 project also represents a connection between current and future generations of Lincolnites.”
Liz Elliott, director of Lincoln Transportation and Utilities, said the main will have capacity to move up to 60 million gallons per day. By 2048, it will merge treated water from both the Platte and Missouri rivers into the city’s system. Elliott noted the project will also connect two reservoirs, improving the system’s reliability during floods, droughts or outages.
“To help decrease construction time, LTU is dividing the work into two projects that will be built at the same time,” Elliott said. “When the final connection is made, the 98th Street transmission main will be a crucial piece of infrastructure that will help support the city’s growth, provide backup in case of potential challenges or natural disasters, and make the water distribution system more flexible and reliable for the future.”
City Councilmember Tom Beckius praised the project as an investment in planning and resilience.
“As we dig in today, we take charge of our future,” Beckius said. “We take charge to provide the families, homes, and businesses of Lincoln’s future with the same water, health and prosperity we benefit from today.”
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