LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Traffic on Nebraska highways is approaching normal levels after falling sharply this spring when restrictions related to the coronavirus were first imposed.
The state Transportation Department said this week that traffic statewide was near the average level from 2016 to 2018 for the first time since early March although some areas remain slower.
On the interstate system of highways around Omaha and between Omaha and Lincoln, traffic was down 9% last week. At the height of the coronavirus restrictions in early April, traffic was down 44% in that area.
In Omaha, traffic on streets and highways was 6% below average. Traffic in Lincoln was down 4% last week.
Highways in some parts of the state were busier than average last week. Interstate 80 traffic west of Lincoln was up 8% and rural highway traffic in the state was up 5%.