Omaha residents should prepare for two concurrent transportation challenges this week: an overnight closure of westbound Interstate 80 and fuel shortages at several local gas stations.
According to 3NewsNow, the Nebraska Department of Transportation will close westbound I‑80 at the I‑680 interchange for pavement repairs. Crews will shut down the stretch between mile markers 447 and 445 from 9 p.m. on Sunday night through Wednesday morning, with work ending at 6 a.m. Drivers will be detoured onto the I‑L‑Q Street ramp. State officials reminded motorists to slow down in work zones, buckle up, and keep phones out of sight.
At the same time, the same outlet reported that many Omaha drivers have encountered empty pumps. NP Mart, which operates 16 stations in the city, said roughly half of its sites were out of fuel. CEO Arshad Nazir attributed the shortage to problems at three distributor locations that supply the company, noting long lines and depleted supplies at those terminals.
Governor Jim Pillen responded by signing an executive order that waives hours‑of‑service requirements for fuel‑transport trucks and expands the amount of fuel that can be carried per trip. The order, designed to speed deliveries to stations, remains in effect until Nov. 18.
When asked about the situation, a Sunoco spokesperson said its Council Bluffs terminal is operating normally and that the company is not experiencing operational issues at the facility. ONEOK, another regional midstream provider, said it has the capacity and infrastructure to move fuel safely and reliably, though product availability at certain terminals may be affected by broader supply constraints and strong regional demand. ONEOK emphasized it does not control the amount of fuel entering the market but is monitoring conditions and looking for ways to increase system capacity.
Local driver Stefano Dis described the inconvenience, noting that three nearby stations were out of fuel before he finally filled up at NP Mart’s Benson station near 52nd and Northwest Radial. “I had to wait till today,” Dis said, adding that the experience was “a little annoying” but he was ultimately able to fill his tank.
What’s next: The I‑80 westbound closure is scheduled to reopen after 6 a.m. on Wednesday, allowing traffic to return to normal routes. Governor Pillen’s fuel‑delivery order will expire on Nov. 18, at which point the state will reassess the need for further relief measures. Residents are encouraged to monitor 3NewsNow for updates on both the highway work and fuel‑supply conditions.
Sources: 3newsnow.com, 3newsnow.com, 3newsnow.com, 3newsnow.com
