The warmer weather is bringing out an annual rite of passage-construction season in Omaha. In Sarpy County, if you drive on Giles between 144th and 156th you only have a few days left before the big barricades go up.
The stretch will expand from a 2-lane road to three lanes with a turning lane.
For people who live nearby like Jay Hannah, he comes to Chalco Hill Recreation Park with his dog Minnie to relax.
“Often I try to pursue my hobbies at sunset and I'm in a hurry to get to the park to walk the dogs or fly the helicopters or whatever,” said Hannah.
Hannah said he knows how much havoc this construction project can be when it first started last year.
“It was a little inconvenient when the street was closed to have to go around about 3 miles,” said Hannah.
He’s happy about this road expanding for another reason than reducing congestion.
“It will be nice to great to have Giles be 4-lane the more people can turn left easily without obstructing traffic or if people aren't paying attention they are going to plow into people like my son,” said Hannah.
Across the park is Micah Hecht and his family flying kites and walking around. The family lives near 156th street and knows how busy this stretch can be.
“Everybody is trying to work, go to school all that stuff at the same time and it really backs up 156th like crazy,” said Hecht.
Hecht said this area needs wider roads as more people move out there.
“Especially for us out here in this neighborhood it really comes down to congestion overall if it's not under construction it's congested regardless with the amount of people coming in to work,” said Hecht.
But said this is just the price to pay for progress.
“The end result is what you're waiting for--because when it's widened it's going to be sweet,” said Hecht.
Work is scheduled to start on Monday April, 4th and supposed to end in August.
