U.S. Route 26 in Nebraska

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U.S. Highway 26

US 26 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NDOT
Length150.79 mi[1] (242.67 km)
Major junctions
West end US 26 at Wyoming border
Major intersections
East end I-80 / N-61 at Ogallala
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNebraska
CountiesSioux, Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Garden, Keith
Highway system
N-25 N-27

U.S. Highway 26 (US‑26) is an east–west highway in western Nebraska. It enters the state from Wyoming just west of Henry. The eastern terminus of US‑26 is in Ogallala at an interchange with Interstate 80 (I-80). The highway largely parallels the North Platte River for the majority of its route in Nebraska and as such, runs at a northwest-southeast angle. The highway also parallels the original paths of the Oregon Trail, the California Trail and the Mormon Pioneer Trail.

Route description

US‑26 enters Nebraska from Wyoming, and shortly thereafter enters Henry. After passing through Morrill, US‑26 becomes a divided highway. At Mitchell, US‑26 meets Nebraska Highway 29 (N‑29). Continuing southeast, US‑26 enters Scottsbluff. Through Scottsbluff, US‑26 runs concurrent with N‑71 and N‑92 on a highway which goes through northern Scottsbluff. After N‑71 and N‑92 separate, US‑26 continues to Minatare, Nebraska, where the divided highway ends. The highway runs due east until an intersection with Nebraska Link 62A (L-62A), when the highway turns south. US‑26 passes through Bayard and, after crossing the North Platte River meets with N‑92 again near Chimney Rock.[1][2]

US‑26 and N‑92 turn southeast towards Bridgeport. At Bridgeport, N‑92 separates and US‑26 meets US‑385. They cross the North Platte River together, and separate. US‑26 continues southeasterly on the north side of the North Platte River. At Broadwater, US‑26 begins its third concurrency with N‑92. They run together through Lisco, Oshkosh, and Lewellen. At Oshkosh, US‑26 meets Nebraska Highway 27. At Lewellen, US‑26 and N‑92 separate for the last time and shortly thereafter, US‑26 crosses the North Platte River again. After passing through Ash Hollow State Historical Park, the highway passes through no communities until meeting N‑61 northwest of Ogallala. US‑26 runs concurrent with N‑61 the rest of its length in Nebraska. The two highways go south to US‑30, then the three highways run concurrent into Ogallala. They then separate from US‑30, turn south to cross the South Platte River and US‑26 ends at I‑80.[1][2]

History

From the creation of the highway in 1926 until the 1930s, US-26 went north of the North Platte River east of Lewellen. This alignment went east to Martin, where US‑26 met N-61 and the two highways went south from there into Ogallala. When Lake McConaughy was built in the 1930s, the current alignment was constructed.[3]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
SiouxHenry0.000.00
US 26 west / California National Historic Trail / Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail / Oregon National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail – Torrington, Casper
Continuation into Wyoming
Scotts BluffMitchell13.6822.02
N-29 north (19th Avenue)
Scottsbluff21.6434.83
N-92 west – Gering
West end of N-92 overlap
22.2635.82
N-71 north / CR 21
West end of N-71 overlap
25.6741.31

N-71 south / N-92 east – Gering, Kimball
East end of N-71/N-92 overlap
Minatare31.9151.35
L-79E south / CR 29 – Melbeta
MorrillWest Bayard Precinct41.9567.51
L-62A east – Alliance
Former US-26N
Bayard48.8978.68
N-92 west – Gering, Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff National Monument
West end of N-92 overlap
Bridgeport61.4298.85

US 385 south / N-92 east / California National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail
East end of N-92 overlap; west end of US 385 overlap
62.42100.46
US 385 north – Alliance
East end of US 385 overlap
Broadwater76.49123.10
N-92 west – Sidney
West end of N-92 overlap
GardenOshkosh106.05170.67
N-27 south to US 30
Lewellen118.89191.33
N-92 east – Lake McConaughy
East end of N-92 overlap
KeithOgallala144.90233.19
N-61 north – Lake McConaughy
West end of N-61 overlap
148.02238.22
US 30 west – Sidney
West end of US 30 overlap
150.01241.42
US 30 east / Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail / Oregon National Historic Trail
East end of US 30 overlap
150.79242.67
I-80 / N-61 south – Sidney, North Platte, Grant
National eastern terminus; east end of N-61 overlap; I-80 exit 126; highway continues south as N-61
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Related route

U.S. Highway 26N

LocationBayardBroadwater
Existed1936–1959

Between 1936 and 1959, there was a U.S. Highway 26N. It went east along today's L-62A, then south along today's US-385 to just north of Bridgeport and east along today's US‑26 to Broadwater. In those years, the mainline of US‑26 between Bridgeport and Broadwater went on the south side of the North Platte River, along today's Nebraska Highway 92.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Nebraska Highway Reference Log Book" (PDF). Nebraska Department of Roads. 2015. pp. 86–90. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Google (2010-11-11). "overview of U.S. Route 26 in Nebraska" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  3. ^ Nebraska Roads: US 6-38
  4. ^ The Nebraska Highways Page: Highways 1 to 30 Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine


U.S. Route 26
Previous state:
Wyoming
Nebraska Next state:
Terminus