As the Huskers prepare for their first home game of the season this Saturday, Lincoln Police will be stepping up efforts to keep fans safe before and after the game. LPD Sergeant Chris Weber with the Southwest Team is in charge of traffic detail for all home games.
He says the majority of the officers assigned to the traffic detail are off-duty and they sign-up on their day off and they help direct traffic before and after the game. “During the game, they work with UNL to provide additional security inside the stadium.”
He says about 30 of those off-duty officers will be directing traffic at numerous intersections in and around downtown to get fans in vehicles and on foot where they need to go safely and efficiently. “We’re anticipating a lane or two of traffic on 9th and 10th will be closed due to missing sidewalks so pedestrians can get to and from the stadium without significant delays,” Weber says.
Additional officers will also work special details downtown and the Railyard, focusing on various alcohol offenses, tavern violations and other law violations. Weber encourages people to give themselves plenty of time to find parking, get to the stadium, through security and to your seats.
“We recommend fans check their favorite navigation app – like Apple, Google or Waze – and our partners’ websites regularly for information about routes, traffic and parking,” Weber says.
LPD will also work closely with Lincoln Transportation and Utilities to maintain traffic flow. LTU manages traffic signals through its central operations hub and organizes traffic flow with barriers and cones.