From left, Nebraska Department of Transportation Director Vicki Kramer, Dave Rexin of Graham Construction, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg, Jessica Kolterman of Lincoln Premium Poultry and Nebraska District 15 State Senator Lynne Walz were among the officials attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Fremont Southeast Beltway.
A little rain wasn’t about to spoil the celebration Tuesday for the completion of the Fremont Southeast Beltway.
When Mother Nature decided to give the city some much-needed rain Tuesday morning, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was transferred to the Fremont City Council Chambers, 400 E. Military Ave.
Gov. Jim Pillen, Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg and Nebraska State Senator Lynne Walz were among those in attendance. Pillen lauded the work that was done to complete the $62 million project that was completed to provide a bypass around the southeast side of the city.
“It is a really big day,” he said. “I can’t give enough kudos to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. We work so hard in Nebraska that it is important that we take time to celebrate and this is a big celebration. It is really exciting to have a big project like this completed before time and under budget.”
Completion of the 3.2-mile, four-lane beltway is expected to improve safety by reducing congestion on U.S. Highway 77 and also improve regional connectivity.
Pillen said the project was crucial for some of the city’s major businesses.
“This project is so critical to Fremont and so critical to the growing of Costco and Wholestone (Farms),” he said. “I don’t know how many trucks Costco will have, but Wholestone is going to have 300 trucks coming and going every day — extraordinary activity. People are really excited about this project. … It is really going to be an extraordinary hub when you think of the city of Fremont.”
Spellerberg said the project was a team effort. He thanked former Fremont Mayor Scott Getzschman, former and current city council members and other officials for their contributions.
“This was also a huge example of a public-private partnership,” he said. “There was a lot of private money that had to come in to shore this up so this project could get moved up and get completed.”
The mayor noted that organizations that contributed to the project included Lincoln Premium Poultry, Costco, Wholestone Farms, Fremont Beef, Fremont Contract Carriers and Sid Dillon Chevrolet.
“Most importantly, I want to thank the tax payers and the citizens of Fremont, Dodge County and the state,” he said. “The Fremont Southeast Beltway is truly an example of what we can accomplish when we have unity of purpose and perseverance. Without that collaboration, we would not be here today.”
