Douglas County’s ‘State Street Jump’ to be flattened

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The so-called “State Street Jump” between Omaha and Bennington is about to be flattened.

The “jump” refers to the intersection of 168th and State Streets that sits atop a hill with country lanes. It has no signals, and it’s hard to see cross or oncoming traffic.

The intersection is now closed in all directions for about a quarter-mile, beginning Monday.

Many people in northwest Omaha and Bennington aren’t too happy that major thoroughfares will be closed yet again, causing traffic snarls and detours.

“I’ve got to take these roads every single day,” said Oscar Hernandez. “It’s just a pain in the butt.”

“It will probably tighten things up a little more again, especially since we just had State closed for several months,” said Brett Selk of Bennington.

Douglas County engineers say lowering the “State Street Jump” needs to happen.

“It was a dangerous intersection,” said Douglas County Engineering Manager Dan Kutilek. “Young people were using it as a thrill, driving over it at high speeds and getting their cars airborne. There were some very serious accidents, fatality-type accidents.”

Longtime residents likely remember the crash in 1994 that killed three teenagers. Authorities said speed and alcohol were factors. Douglas County engineers say they started planning to overhaul the intersection a few years later. However, federal aid ran out and the county had to wait for development to help pay for it.

“It’s unfortunate or this would have been done years ago,” Kutilek said.

When complete, the intersection will have traffic signals and three lanes. Notably, the intersection will be about 17 feet lower. The thrill of the jump will hopefully be removed with the dirt. (Our earlier report indicated 17 inches in error).

“The car would feel like a roller coaster,” Kutilek said. “You’d feel like that, get that in your stomach. Talking to the residents that used to live out there, they told me these drivers would do it, then they’d switch seats, and another person would drive the car.”

Drivers are asked to use 156th and Ida Streets as detours during construction -- which could create backups because those streets are already overwhelmed with suburban crawl. Selk said it’s the price of progress.

“If it’s going to help the traffic flow, I’m all for it,” he said.

The project is expected to be completed sometime this fall.

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