20 years ago, in 1989, Kearney residents first heard about the possibility of a second exit. Now, after all that time, the project is finally approaching the finish line.

Kearney officials are expecting final approval from the Federal Highway Administration within the next three to six months. Then, construction can finally begin.

When Michael Morgan took the job as Kearney's city manager, he was told construction on the Cherry Avenue exit would start in about three years. It's now been five and still no bypass.

Michael Morgan, Kearney City Manager, said, "Initially, I told people it's coming. We need to be
patient. Now, it's we need to be patient. The time frames we've looked at have come and gone."

Meanwhile, the city's population grows which has clogged up 2nd Avenue with traffic. A second exit would help clear up congestion and safety concerns.

"We need it everyday more than we needed it the day before," said Morgan.

Over the years, the pricetag has gone up from $37 to about $50 million. To cover the cost of inflation, the project will get completed in three phases. The first is a northbound
only exit onto Cherry Ave. up to 11th St. From there, there'll be an overpass above the railroad and Highway 30. The third phase stretches from 56th up to 78th circling to back to Highway 2.

Morgan added, "The amount of people that have been involved and the hours that have been spent on this project over the last 10 to 12 years is pretty staggering."

The plans have been finalized.  Funding from the city, county, state and federal government is in place. It's all lead to two decades worth of frustration.

Shirley McCammond, a Kearney resident, said, "I know the archway was build with the idea that we would have another exit. I think the archway's has some struggles because it isn't easy to get to it. But, inside it's very worthwhile."

Mike Meyers, a Kearney resident, said, "I just think North Platte has two. I mean, Kearney should have two also to get some of the congestion off 2nd Ave."

Morgan said the final nod is just three to six months away. That might be optimistic, though, when you figure the city's been waiting on the Federal Highway Administration for nearly two years.

"It is true that there are people that have come and gone in the review of the project,
which has not helped at the federal level. And those folks have to come in and look at it through new eyes and that takes additional time," Morgan commented.

After that approval comes in, Morgan said construction would start about a year later opening the gates for more development in the city.

Construction could begin sometime in 2011. Phases one and two will take three years to complete.