Construction crews are tearing up streets near 24th and Hamilton in North Omaha as work continues on the next phase of the North Omaha Trail, and the disruption is creating real headaches for nearby businesses even as some owners insist the project is worth the wait. The trail, once finished, is expected to stretch approximately eight miles and give pedestrians and cyclists a safer, more accessible route through the neighborhood.
The ongoing work is part of Phase 2 of the trail, which officials broke ground on in April, according to WOWT. That outlet reported the project is meant to reconnect neighborhoods, spark economic growth and give north Omaha residents safe, accessible green space. As 3 News Now reports, businesses along the corridor are navigating the ongoing construction, with some hoping the completed trail will eventually bring new connections and opportunities to the area.
Angel Starks, director of development for The Exchange, told 3 News Now she supports projects that make the city more connected, even as the construction creates short-term inconvenience. Starks, a North Omaha native, said she is excited about the trail's end result despite the disruption, and believes the project can create a more connected and welcoming community. Starks serves as director of development for The Exchange.
Concerns About Who Benefits From the Trail
Not everyone is convinced the trail will benefit longtime residents equally. Per 3 News Now, some residents have expressed concerns about gentrification and the displacement of longtime neighbors as redevelopment follows the trail's path. Starks addressed those worries directly, saying that displacing people historically in the area is not the goal of the effort, and that the project instead aims to restore the liveliness of the North 24th corridor, especially for the people historically associated with it.
The trail itself runs from just off 24th Street in Ohio toward a park to the west and toward downtown to the east, according to 3 News Now's reporting. That alignment matches the broader route description from 3 News Now's earlier coverage, which said Phase 2 will extend from 24th and Ohio all the way to downtown Omaha, cutting through Creighton University's campus.
Funding and the Trail's Earlier Phases
The project has drawn significant public investment. The Keep Omaha Moving initiative lists an $8 million grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development behind the current phase, with roughly $6 million of that earmarked for construction. Keep Omaha Moving also describes the trail as a way to spark trail-oriented development and entrepreneurship, reconnect communities and reduce dependence on gasoline-powered cars.
Planning and fundraising for the trail began back in 2018, according to Better Bike Share, which reported that construction on Phase 1 started in February or March of 2022, with a ribbon cutting held on October 22, 2022. The first phase runs from 30th and Sprague streets to 24th and Ohio streets. The Nebraska Examiner reported that stretch cost about $3 million, funded by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District and private philanthropy.
Conflicting Timelines and a Longer Road Ahead
Exactly how long the finished network will stretch remains unsettled: Spark CDI states the trail will stretch approximately eight miles when completed, while other sources describe a roughly five-mile buildout. WOWT reported that Phase 2 had broken ground in April and was expected to be done the next year, while Keep Omaha Moving says it must be completed by 2027.
Spark CDI lists one stretch from 24th and Ohio to the Baby Bob Bridge via Creighton University as in progress, with completion expected in 2027. Keep Omaha Moving lists a separate proposed route from 30th and Sprague to Miller Park via Metropolitan Community College. One Omaha notes that additional future phases hope to make connections to downtown Omaha and the Riverfront, as well as Benson and Miller Park.
A Broader Push Along North 24th Street
The trail construction is unfolding alongside a separate streetscape overhaul planned for the North 24th Street corridor. The North 24th Street Business Improvement District's master plan calls for repairing sidewalks and curbs, calming traffic, improving lighting, managing stormwater, expanding green infrastructure and upgrading parking, according to the North 24th Street Business Improvement District. The plan also calls for sustainable landscaping, historical theming and public art, with stated goals of increasing foot traffic, attracting new businesses, supporting local commerce, raising property values and creating jobs.
A related North 24th Street streetscape effort was part of a larger $53 million funding pot that included $8.3 million for the project. Better Bike Share also pointed to early signs of the trail's traffic impact, reporting that Spark observed roughly an 800% to 1,000% increase in people crossing the Pratt Street Bridge after the trail was built, compared with before.
