The residential expansion in the Papillion and Gretna area not only brings more residential homes and families but also new schools and increased traffic. The development of Gretna East High School became an instant destination for multi-modal traffic and student drivers. These circumstances called for improved traffic flow with enhanced safety for all movement in and around the high school.

Lamp Rynearson engineers lead the design and construction of two roundabouts — a 3-legged roundabout at Lincoln Road with single through lanes and a 5-legged roundabout at Camelback Avenue that allows access to the adjacent high school at both the north and south ends.

The 5-legged roundabout proved especially challenging as it needed to be constructed without disturbing the high transmission powerlines running alongside 180th Street. The traffic circle was constructed around one of the poles that now stand in the roundabout’s center. Existing roadways were also used for entrances and exits of the roundabout.

Phasing was used on this project to allow continued access to Gretna East High School and nearby residential subdivisions. Lamp Rynearson coordinated with Sarpy County, the Nebraska Department of Transportation, the City of Gretna, and Gretna Public Schools.