Lincolnite

I’m not sure this beltway is going to do what everyone thinks it will do.  When people mention a beltway, they talk about how easy it is to get around Omaha with their roads system. Whereas Omaha’s beltway system takes you from one place to another, Lincoln’s will take you from nowhere to nowhere. You have to clear a way for major, raised roads if you want to get from 27th and Superior to 70th and Pioneers in 7 minutes.  O Street would have to be a raised road with ‘exits’ much like West Dodge is in Omaha now. Considering the speed at which development is done in Lincoln, the resistance to change, and the outcry when businesses are affected, this will never happen.  The proposed beltway system will just make it easier for trucks to get around the city.

If all it did was give trucks a way around town, I’d still be for it.

I do like the idea of building it “from nowhere to nowhere” however. Much easier and faster to build through a field than through an existing business area. Plus, today’s nowhere is tomorrow’s “somewhere”. I think it would encourage growth on the South side.

Just start building it already.

One of the strangest things about Lincoln and its history is why there was not an Interstate Loop built around the city. You travel to cities from half our size on up that sit next to the Interstate, and they have a loop or a business loop or something. It should have been done when I-80 went in, or over the last 2 decades as it was rebuilt. The existing west bypass could easily be “I-380” until a few miles south of Lincoln, as it nearly meets Interstate criteria and will eventually. I live way SE, and am not convinced the East bypass which I may or may not ever see will be much of a savings over 84th Street.

$150 million is a lot of money to spend to allow trucks an easier route.  Some people are scared to death of Hwy 2, which I can understand, but it’s not like several people a day die on that road.  Nowhere today may be somewhere tomorrow, but that still doesn’t mean it’s going to give people the speed of transportation that they’re looking for.  And about every other comment section in the LJS erupts into North Lincoln vs South Lincoln class warfare, so I can only imagine what another $150M pumped into south Lincoln would do to that debate. 

Fletch, the absence of a loop is not nearly as strange as the election of Colleen Seng.

If you look at the plans for the South Bypass, it’s already nearly as close to developed areas as I-80 is on the north side of town.

Dave K, you bring up something that I’ve been wondering about for a long time: what, exactly, makes South Lincoln so loved (if you live there) or scorned (if you don’t)?  I didn’t grow up in Lincoln, but I came here a lot (shopping, Husker basketball games, the State Fair…) and until I started college, I knew practically nothing about the parts of Lincoln south of O.  Perhaps the natives or longer-term residents can fill me in: what gives?

I would be one of the southside non likers.  Growing up in Bethany, hanging in havelock, uni palce, and now living near downtown I like the old Lincoln.

To me the south side is like hollywood.  Full of rich folk with their SUV’s, expensive coffee, and chain restaurants.  Try to find a pinball machine down south.

Still I shop at the 27th and pine lake super saver, and bed bath and beyond gets my gadget money often.

I would like a beltway I think.  i am pretty lucky to live near 9th & 10th street so north and south are really easy for me to get to.  But the east is a huge trip for me.

Where does north/south divide in people’s minds?

to me it is mostly hwy 2, but since it cuts at an angle pioneers would prob be better for my division.

I say we start a rumble.  Us north siders can use bats with nails in them and you south siders can youse you Louie Vitton and prada bags 😉

What about us West siders?

Can we bring our motorcycles, correctional facility friends and large fiberglass chicken?

Hands off the chicken.

Yeah, the North vs. South conflict is one of class warfare.  Northsiders think South Lincoln is some sort of unfair haven of wealth and glamour.  There clearly is a lot of high-end development going on in South Lincoln, but that isn’t exactly a reason to hate it or the people that live there.  In all honesty, I don’t see the hate reciprocated by the southsiders.  Probably because they’re all busy driving Lamborghinis and drinking Cristal.

The biggest division is American vehicles vs. Foreign….and they are not all Lamborghinis.

I agree with Dave’s takes (both the Colleen Seng and the recent North vs. South). I am a southsider and drive an SUV, so I guess I better never meet BoK in person, or he may kisk my a** just for the fun of it. I honestly don’t see the big deal—save for the Ridge and maybe Wilderness Ridge or HiMark areas, much of the north Lincoln development looks a lot like the neighborhoods I have lived in - Pine Lake Heights and Vintage Heights. Maybe it’s all perception - I live south, and when I drive north, I think they have more food and shopping options than I have. When people drive here from the north, they probably think the same thing. It’s probably about familiarity more than anything. I don’t see dislikes reciprocated - it simply never comes up in a conversation that I’ve ever had. I do know that I pay more for gas living here. And I think my property taxes may be higher.

naw I aint got nuttin against SUV’s.
I bet you are good people.
I must say there are usually some attractive folk down south.
My life partner worked at the movie theater for a while in southpoint.  I gotz lotz of popcorn 😊

But Red Robin burgers makes me stabby.  Gourmet my behind.

All the new houses surround the whole city just aint my thang.  Luvz me the old houses.

And the south has the majority of wilderness park, my church, all good in my book.

Just trying to get a rumble going that is all.  Been practicing my dance moves 😉

Hey Mr. Wilson, might need to replenish the winky emoticons.  Been using a bunch.

It’s no problem, beerorkid. I’ll just make more.

lol that is awesome

I gotz new avatar now 😊

I’m a west-sider (love my Lee’s Chicken) who just moved south (hate Red Robin), so I’m not sure which side to fight. 😉

Perhaps we could settle this over a game of darts? Pool? Boiled egg eating contest?

I have to say I am also disappointed in Red Robin - way too expensive for an okay burger. I really like the burgers at Backyard Burger, actually - maybe a buck or two more than BK, etc. but tasty. If I am near SouthPointe, I’d just as soon hit the Chipotle than Red Robin.