Spoofy Randomness

I was recently in a situation where I was not allowed access to a computer, phone, books, etc. for several hours…but I had a couple pens and some handouts with blank backs! So for the next few weeks I will post these sketches. They are just some thoughts I’ve had about how I would improve roads in NW Lincoln. I did draw these 100% from memory; I did not alter anything afterward, and so once I look at satellite pics, that will probably nix some of my ideas. (Obviously not to scale for the same reasons.)

For this one, I focused on Purple Heart Hwy and the NW 12th/13th St Corridor. My goal here was to convert Purple Heart Hwy to freeway–not interstate standard, though–out to N-79 (the western half will be shown later). This involved closing the Fallbrook Blvd intersection and converting W Fletcher Ave to an interchange (trying to avoid as many buildings as possible from memory); it also gives a roundabout at W Fletcher Ave/Fletcher Ave/N 1st St. I also put a roundabout at W Fletcher Ave and NW 1st St, because making a left turn there drives me crazy.

There are currently long-term plans to build a bridge connecting the roundabouts at W Fletcher Ave and Aster Rd (I can’t wait!). I expanded this plan to include an interchange. One of my minor peeves is that NW 12th St becomes NW 13th St by Highlands Pool, and the new bridge will result in it rejoining the NW 12th St corridor. So I decided that these improvements would involve a consistent name from the south end of the I-80 interchange all the way to Aster Rd (where it would take the NW 12th St name). Renaming wouldn’t actually be too difficult; there are very few addresses on this stretch. I also threw out the consideration of including W Cornhusker Hwy in the renaming, since that is no longer a highway, never was part of US 77 (the original Cornhusker Hwy), and it is the same road, just curved to be E-W instead of N-S. If you can’t read my handwriting, I’ve listed the name ideas below with brief justification. I also said it should be part of the Lincoln Parkway system, which would also involve upgrading the section between W Highlands Blvd and W Fletcher Ave to a four lane divided street.

• N Highlands Pkwy: It serves the Highlands. This is my favorite name, but to be fair we do have W Highlands Blvd on the south side of the residential Highlands
• Duncan Pkwy: In honor of Duncan Aviation (as this is access to W Adams St to reach the airport) and a major Lincoln family
• Fredstrom Pkwy: Matches the name of the nearby elementary school
• Aeronautic Pkwy: Nearby airport
• Arrow Pkwy: Named after a former airport of Lincoln. Has the added bonus of being a DC Comics reference (Lincoln’s nickname is the Star City, which is also the name of the Green Arrow’s city)
• Lindbergh Pkwy: Supposedly Lindbergh learned how to fly at Arrow Airport.
• West Lincoln Pkwy: This would be particularly good if W Cornhusker Hwy is included, as West Lincoln is served.
• Star City Pkwy: Good name for the major road bringing people into Lincoln from the airport/US 34
• Lancaster Pkwy: Honoring Lincoln’s original name, and goes roughly past the salt marshes.

If you like this kind of stuff, let me know in the comments and maybe there will be more!