# City Council to tackle viaduct project, minimum wage on May 4 agenda  
**Published:** 2026-05-01T11:54:05.000Z  
**Source:** [Lincoln City Council Agendas](https://lnklan.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=892)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/city-council-to-tackle-viaduct-project-minimum-wage-on-may-4-agenda

LINCOLN, Neb. — [The Lincoln City Council will consider multiple infrastructure and labor policy matters](https://lnklan.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=892) during its regular meeting Monday at 3 p.m., including several agreements related to the $125 million [33rd and Cornhusker Highway viaduct project](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/RTSD/33rd-Cornhusker).

The viaduct project proposes eliminating two at-grade railroad crossings at North 33rd Street and Adams Street near Cornhusker Highway and building a new bridge structure over the rail corridor. The $114 million project will improve safety outcomes by eliminating two at-grade crossings that have resulted in 20 accidents with six fatalities in recent years. The project's total cost is around $125 million, with $25 million coming from taxpayer money and the rest from other grant money.

The council will vote on multiple agreements related to the project, including approvals for responsible charge hours and construction engineering services with the Nebraska Department of Transportation. The viaduct is designed to improve safety by reducing conflicts between trains and other transportation modes, reduce delays at rail crossings, and enhance mobility for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users.

The agenda also includes a [second reading of an ordinance (26-41) to establish a Lincoln Minimum Wage Ordinance](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/PZ/Amendments/Text/2026/26-41). Lincoln City Councilman James Michael Bowers introduced an ordinance at last week's council meeting that will maintain the minimum wage standard approved by Nebraska voters in 2022. In November 2022, 67% of local voters supported Initiative 433, establishing a path to a $15 minimum wage in Nebraska by 2026 with annual cost-of-living adjustments.

Earlier this year the Nebraska Legislature created carveouts allowing lower wages for younger workers and capped the voter-approved inflation adjustment at 1.75%. The ordinance introduced by Bowers maintains the original minimum wage standard, without exceptions.

The council also will hear applications for new liquor licenses and approve assessment resolutions for six business improvement districts, including College View, Havelock, North 27th Street, University Place, West O Street, and South Street districts. The meeting will include liquor license hearings, with three applications scheduled for a May 18 hearing date.

## Sources

- [Lincoln City Council Agendas](https://lnklan.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=892)
- [City of Lincoln - 33rd and Cornhusker Viaduct Project](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/RTSD/33rd-Cornhusker)
- [Federal Railroad Administration Finding of No Significant Impacts for 33rd/Cornhusker Viaduct](https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/jzofewee/33rd-cornhusker-rce-fonsi_090525_signed.pdf)
- [KLIN News - Lincoln Viaduct Project Moves Forward](https://www.1011now.com/2026/04/24/lincoln-highway-viaduct-improvement-project-moves-forward-local-business-reacts/)
- [KLIN News - Councilmember Aims to Restore Minimum Wage Without Exceptions](https://klin.com/2026/04/23/lincoln-city-councilman-aims-to-restore-voter-approved-minimum-wage-without-exceptions/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Lincoln City Council Agendas, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://lnklan.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=892.