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OMAHA, Neb. (KPTM) — At Saddle Creek and Cuming, traffic usually moves at a respectable pace before you get to a construction zone. When you get to that zone, however, everybody wants into the lane that’s not blocked.
“I just feel that Omaha has a long way to go as far as road safety goes,” said Sarah Johnson, a transportation advocate.
From a driver’s point of view, it looks like there’s no work being done in the area, but then you get to the curve in the road and everything changes.
“I think better signage and earlier signage would be helpful.”
The concern for some drivers is that the right lane appears to be cut off before you get to the traffic light, but that’s not the case. Sometimes, the middle lane is blocked.
“Making sure that everybody has enough time to plan and not just react would be pretty helpful.”
For some drivers, navigating through construction like the one at Saddle Creek and Cuming is tougher because the signs aren’t where they’re supposed to be or they simply don’t see them. Johnson says she’s seen other construction zones like that in the city.
“All of these cars had not enough time to make their decision about which lane they were going to get into. The closing was not really well announced and so it kind of created a little bit of chaos and congestion.”
That’s why she wants every driver to stay alert and always anticipate a construction zone could be coming.
“Share the road. Whether you’re in a car, on your bicycle or on two feet, just make sure you’re aware that all of us are just trying to get from A to B.”
Last year, the City of Omaha joined the Vision Zero Initiative. It’s aimed at analyzing traffic safety data and safety priorities. Johnson believes that initiative will help with issues related to the roads in Omaha. She says she wants an update from the city about how that’s going.
FOX 42 News called the transportation department Friday to see if any changes could be made to make construction zones safer. No one was available.
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