By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

Nebraska Department of Roads Project Manager Scott Griepenstroh said the fastest way to get across Grand Island amid the Second Street construction project is to stay on Second Street until the detour at Clark Street. It's the east side of the 15-block project.

"People are trying to avoid the area and they don't need to," he said.

One of the worst congestion areas is the stop signs at Third and Clark, Griepenstroh said. The signs stop eastbound traffic at Clark, stop westbound traffic at Clark and stop southbound traffic at Clark.

That's all set up to make a through-traffic area for the detoured highway traffic which is why taking the detour is the fastest way.

"Just get on at Second (and Eddy) and take the detour," he said.

The detour winds around the corner and puts traffic directly onto Third Street with no stopping necessary.

If motorists would take the detour, Griepenstroh said, it would help alleviate some stop-and-go traffic on Eddy Street due to backed up traffic from Third.

The biggest problem on the west end of the construction project is motorists making their own routes.

"People trying to think they are saving a moment or a second are using people's driveways and cutting across lots it's a very rude thing for people to do," Griepenstroh said.

Numerous cut-across problems have been reported at Gosda Car Wash near the Highway 30 overpass, he said.

Griepenstroh is issuing weekly updates on the construction project in the form of a map that runs in The Independent every Sunday on page 6-B.