CONSTRUCTION

The 2011 Build Nebraska Act ( BNA ) ( which sees $ 1.2bn towards transportation infrastructure ) and the Transportation Innovation Act ( TIA ) look set to realize the state ’ s goal to improve its expressway system and put another $ 450m into infrastructure . 100 percent of the work on this expressway system will be in planning , design , construction or complete after the BNA / TIA .

Kyle Schneweis is director of Nebraska Department of Roads . He spent 12 years at the Kansas Department of Transportation , followed by a stint in corporate and came to Nebraska , in part due to family location and because , he says , “ I missed the public sector . I missed the public policy side of things . I missed being part of a team working for the public good .” The thrust of the corporate world can

be exciting . But sometimes you just want to build some bridges .

Now he ’ s got his opportunity . Schneweis is at the helm of an $ 850m budget , 2,100 employees , 10,000 miles of highway and 3,500 bridges . One might assume that coming back from corporate life to public life might be a path beset with tiresome bureaucracy .

While Schneweis agrees there are still hoops , he says it ’ s a forward-thinking environment . “ Nebraska is a great place to be for transportation .

The system is wellmaintained and well supported across the state . The state understands the importance and the recent commitment to capital improvements is encouraging . He adds : “ Our pay-as-you-go approach helps create enduring transportation .”

The department is run from its HQ in Lincoln . Central Complex

www . dor . state . ne . us 97