Hwy 87 has been reopened from Hay Springs to Alliance. Link 7E remains closed between Hwy 87 and Hemingford
ORIGINAL STORY
The Nebraska Department of Transportation says Hwy 20 has been reopened across Northwest Nebraska, leaving only 4 roads still closed as of noon.
They are Hwy 27 from Gordon to Hwy 2, Hwy 250 from Rushville to Hwy 2, Hwy 87 from Hay Springs to Alliance, and Link 7E from Hwy 87 to Hemingford..
NDOT District 5 Operations and Maintenance Manager John Lutz says Hwy 385 could have been reopened earlier than it was if not for the number of drivers who had ignored Road Closed signs and become stuck in drifts, causing more work for crews and making it harder to clear the roadway.
Hwy 20 remained closed until this morning between Lusk and Valentine because of the difference in needs between locals and truckers and others passing through
Dawes County Sheriff Karl Dailey described Hwy 20 between Chadron and Crawford as “excellent” early Friday afternoon, but Lutz says the condition of that section of highway wasn’t the problem.
Lutz says the problem was that Hwy 20 remained blocked west of Harrison and there isn’t enough lodging or available truck parking west of Chadron to handle many drivers after leaving the city.
Lutz says it’s a situation that’s fairly common when major snowstorms hit Interstate 80 in eastern Wyoming and Western Nebraska, also areas with smaller towns and limited lodging for stranded travelers. Westbound traffic will sometimes be stopped at Sidney or even as far east as North Platte to keep from overwhelming rural areas..
Lutz says highway cameras are a problem in parts of the state because the lead some drivers to venture out and get stuck after seeing clear pavement on camera while major drifts blocked the route not far from the camera view.
Lutz agrees it may be frustrating for drivers not to be able to use a highway that looks clear, but insists it’s safest to trust the NDOT on whether a road should be open or closed – adding that driving around a barrier can bring a $750 fine and the costs of being rescued or freed.