Document oDJXbaQwBm0xGeGVex27o0pDw

PETE RICKETTS NEBRASKA SUITE 139 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2710 12021 224-4224 Mates COMMITTEES: FOREIGN RELATIONS ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS BUDGET March 1, 2025 The Honorable Sean Duffy Secretary of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Duffy, I write to request your consideration for the U.S. Department of Transportation Highway Bridge Program application for $13,680,000 submitted by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT). The project calls to replace four bridges on the Interstate 180 (I-180) system in Lincoln. Two of the bridges on I-180 are 65-years old and in poor condition and span I-80, one of the most vital transcontinental highways in the United States. The other two bridges, located at Adams Street and Highway 6, were both constructed in 1963 and cross over I-180, which must be widened to meet current traffic demands. All four structures have reached the end of their useful life and pose increasing risks to safety, mobility, and economic activity. I-180 serves as a critical auxiliary interstate highway linking the Lincoln metropolitan area to I80, making the replacement of these bridges essential. These bridges provide vital access to downtown Lincoln, ensuring the efficient movement of people and goods along the National Highway System. Additionally, they facilitate connections between residential areas, commercial districts, and key regional landmarks, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Memorial Stadium. UNL is one of the largest employers in Nebraska, with over 10,000 employees, and Memorial Stadium regularly attracts up to 90,000 attendees for Cornhusker football games. I ask that you please give all due and fair consideration, in accordance with all rules and regulations, to NDOT's grant application for the U.S. Department of Transportation Highway Bridge Program grant. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Trinity Chappelear in my Omaha office; she may be reached by phone at b)(6) or by email at Trinity Chappelear@ricketts.senate.gov. Respectfully, PeteRicketts United States Senator OST-2025-1200 Page 02795 Sierra Club v. Dept. of Transp. - 3:25-cv-06221 SC_EVERSPLIT0028505