Interstate 480 (Nebraska–Iowa)

Route information
Length	4.90 mi (7.89 km)
Major junctions
South end	I-80 / US 75 in Omaha, NE
Major intersections	US 6 in Omaha, NE
East end	I-29 / US 6 in Council Bluffs, IA

Interstate 480 (abbreviated I-480) is a loop highway that connects downtown Omaha, Nebraska (at a junction with Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 75) with Council Bluffs, Iowa at a junction with Interstate 29. The entire length of I-480 is a short 4.9 miles (7.9 km). U.S. Route 6 runs jointly with I-480 for a short distance, from Council Bluffs across the Missouri River.

The portion in Nebraska is called the "Gerald R. Ford Freeway" after the Omaha native son President. It passes near the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens. The girder bridge across the Missouri River completed in 1966 replaced the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge which was the first road bridge across the river connecting the two cities.

In 1999, a bill in the United States House of Representatives would have extended I-480 south along US 75 in southern Omaha and Bellevue, then east through Plattsmouth to connect with Interstate 29 near Glenwood, Iowa, increasing the length of the I-480 to 19 miles (31 km). However, this bill never advanced out of committee; instead, the states of Nebraska and Iowa have begun work on a plan to build two bridges across the Missouri River .

History

The I-480 bridge over the Missouri River between Council Bluffs, Iowa and Downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

In the late 1950s the construction of what was then referred to as Route 3 was highly controversial. It conveniently crossed through the western and northern edges of Downtown Omaha, two areas city leaders had considered "blighted" since the 1930s. The heavily Catholic, ethnic European neighborhoods the route went through rallied against the demolition of their homes, and the city's parks advocates provided resistance as well. Eventually the Interstate planners won out, and the city's historic Jefferson Square was demolished, as well as dozens of homes along the route.

Future

As of 2005, the Nebraska Department of Roads began a project to bring the I-480/US 75 interchange up to Interstate standards. Construction is expected to be complete in 2009.

Exit list

County	Location	Mile	#	Destinations	Notes
Douglas	Omaha			US 75 south (Kennedy Freeway) – Offutt AFB	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
				I-80 east – Des Moines	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
			452C	I-80 west – Lincoln	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
			1A	Martha Street	Former Hwy 38
			1B	Leavenworth Street	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
			2A	Harney Street, Dodge Street	To US 6, Northbound exit and southbound entrance
			2B	30th Street, Dodge Street	To US 6 No northbound exit
			2C	US 75 north (North Freeway) – Creighton University, Qwest Center Omaha, Eppley Airfield	North end of US-75 overlap
			2D	Capitol Avenue, 20th Street – Omaha Civic Auditorium	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
			3	14th Street - Qwest Center Omaha, Old Market District, Creighton University	Signed as exit 3A eastbound
			4	US 6 west (Dodge Street) – Qwest Center Omaha, Eppley Airfield, Carter Lake, Iowa	West end of US-6 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Bridge over the Missouri River to enter Iowa
Pottawattamie	Council Bluffs			Dodge Park	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
			1A-B	I-29 to I-80 – Sioux City, Kansas City	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
				2nd Avenue	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
				US 6 east – Council Bluffs	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

External links

• US 75, I-480 Interchange Project

Browse numbered routes
← US 385	NE	→
← Iowa 415	IA	→