Gretna, Nebraska is growing. In 2021, the new 157-acre Gretna Crossing Park was under construction in the community, creating a need for modern infrastructure to support future visitors. At the time, Capehart Road—the primary route to the future park—was a hilly, gravel road that was not equipped to handle increased traffic.

Designed for Today and the Future

We partnered with the City of Gretna to design the transformation of Capehart Road, modernizing it into a paved, urban street designed to safely serve park visitors and accommodate future growth.

An early traffic impact study guided several improvements, including new turn lanes and a traffic signal at the Highway 6 and Capehart Road intersection. Two park entrances were added, hills were regraded to improve sight distances, and a 10-foot concrete trail was constructed along the north side of the roadway, connecting directly to the in-park trail system.

The roadway was also designed with future expansion in mind. When growth and traffic volumes warrant conversion of the road to a boulevard, the existing center sacrificial lane can be removed, a center median added, and two additional lanes constructed on the south side, all with minimal reconstruction of the current roadway.

Drainage improvements were another critical component of the project. Roadside ditches that previously overflowed water onto adjacent properties were replaced with a comprehensive storm sewer system. These improvements protect the roadway and nearby infrastructure, extend pavement life, reduce maintenance costs, and support anticipated future development while minimizing future inconveniences.

Two Projects, Two Clients, One Common Goal

Once the project moved to construction, our team provided construction administration and observation services not only for the section we designed, but also for an adjacent segment on Capehart Road, concurrently under construction but designed by another consultant for Sarpy County. That project was moving west while ours was moving east.

Bottom line: our construction team worked with two projects, two clients, and two design teams to achieve one goal—seamlessly connecting both projects at the park’s eastern property line.

This feat required extensive coordination. While both projects used the same contractor, they were designed using different coordinate systems, creating a challenge before construction began. During design, our team evaluated both datasets and adjusted our tie-in location to match the other consultant’s work as they were further ahead in construction.

Through constant communication and attention to detail, both projects connected seamlessly at the pre-determined location.

This project demonstrated how two consultants can collaborate effectively to achieve a shared goal. Today, Capehart Road features enhanced safety improvements and is well-positioned to support continued growth and development in the area.