The department said Thursday that eastbound I-80 is scheduled to be closed starting at 8 p.m. on Dec. 22 for the demolition of bridges over I-80 on Northwest 84th and Northwest 112th streets. Work is expected to be completed and the eastbound lanes reopened by 6 a.m. on Dec. 23.

During the work, eastbound I-80 traffic will be detoured at the Milford exit (Exit 382) and routed north to U.S. 34 and then head east on 34 before reentering I-80 at exit 401. 

On Dec. 23, NDOT plans to close the westbound lanes of I-80 starting at 8 p.m. to complete demolition of the two bridges. Westbound traffic will be detoured at Exit 401 and routed west on U.S. 34, then south on Matzke Highway (County Road 238) to Exit 382 to reenter the interstate.

Hawkins Construction Co. of Omaha is the contractor for the project, which is part of the larger project to widen I-80 to three lanes from Northwest 56th Street to the Pleasant Dale exit.

Drunken driving claimed 4,759 lives across the U.S. during the month of December from 2018 to 2022, according to national safety agency.

According to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 40% of traffic deaths over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays are attributed to drunken drivers. In 2022, 1,210 people died in alcohol-related crashes in December alone. The Nebraska Highway Traffic Safety Office said there were nine fatalities that involved alcohol in December of 2023. There were six fatalities in December of 2022 that involved alcohol.

Bill Kovarik, the administrator of the Nebraska Highway Traffic Safety Office, said impaired driving fatalities are also increasing nationwide on a yearly basis. The number of fatalities in the U.S. went from 10,196 in 2019 to 13,524 in 2022, more than a 30% increase.

“Nebraska had 60 fatalities that involved impaired drivers in all of 2018 and (the number) increased to 67 in 2022, a 12% increase,” Kovarik said. “So with all of the options for impaired drivers to get a safe ride home, fatalities are still increasing. It doesn’t need to happen.”

There are a number of ways to prevent driving after drinking with the most obvious being to have a designated driver. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) advises that designated drivers, rideshare programs and public transportation are all ways to stay safe and keep others safe.

Alternatives to driving after drinking

Suggestions for keeping impaired drivers off the roads also include party hosts monitoring their guests’ drinking, according to MADD. Drivers who have been drinking could be offered a place to stay while they sober up or call for a free ride home for their guests. Uber Rides Uber vouchers are available to drivers who need a safe ride home during the holiday season. The Get Home Safe for the Holidays program runs until Jan. 1.

The Highway Traffic Safety Office, a division of the Nebraska Department of Transportation, is partnering this year for the first time with Uber, MADD, Friedman Law Offices of Lincoln and AAA to help pay for rides home. The Get Home Safe for the Holidays program started Wednesday and will run until Jan. 1.

Drivers can use a QR code to access an Uber ride. They will receive two $10 vouchers to be used for the rides.

Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop of Omaha and the Friedman Law Offices have both offered free taxicab rides home for several years.

The Hauptman O’Brien firm began its Safe Ride Home taxi cab program in 1990 and has provided roughly 75,000 safe rides to those who have had a little too much holiday cheer, a spokesperson said. A recent partnership with Uber makes accessing a safe ride even easier.

This year’s Hauptman O’Brien campaign kicks off Friday and will be available every day from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. the following day, until New Year’s Day. To claim a free Uber voucher worth one ride up to $35, visit bit.ly/SAFERIDEHOME.

“We are incredibly proud of the positive impact our program has had on our community,” a statement from Hauptman O’Brien said. “We are grateful for your support in helping us reach more people and ensuring their safety.”

The Friedman firm is providing free cab rides home starting Friday to New Year’s Day from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The law firm is partnering with zTrip to keep impaired drivers off the roads.

Dan Friedman said his father, Herb, originated the programs “many, many years ago.” He is unsure how many people have taken advantage of the free rides, but he said he knows the total would be in the thousands.

“My father started the program when he saw what drunken driving did to our clients and our community,” Friedman said. “We want to help people stay safe as they celebrate the holidays.”

Parents should also talk to their children about underage drinking and impaired driving, along with having open and honest conversations about the importance of making safe choices. MADD’s Power of Parents handbook provides strategies to safeguard children and prevent underage drinking and driving.

Finally, MADD urges reporting of impaired drivers. Anyone who sees a suspected impaired driver should alert law enforcement right away.

To receive a free ride home in Lincoln, call 402-474-SAFE (7233) and request the “Let Friedman Drive program” or use promo code “FREERIDE” in the zTrip app. This service only applies to licensed drivers seeking rides to residential destinations within the city limits of Lincoln.

MADD also said sober drivers should be extra alert on the roads, as more impaired drivers will be behind the wheel. Everyone in a vehicle should wear a seatbelt and drivers should be very cautious.