U.S. Highway 26 marker

U.S. Highway 26

US-26 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NDOT
Length150.79 mi[1] (242.67 km)
Major junctions
West end US 26 at Wyoming border
Major intersections
East end I-80 / N-61 at Ogallala
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNebraska
CountiesSioux, Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Garden, Keith
Highway system
N-25 N-27

U.S. Highway 26 (US-26) is an east–west highway in western Nebraska. It enters the state from Wyoming just west of Henry. The eastern terminus of US-26 is in Ogallala at an interchange with Interstate 80 (I-80). The highway largely parallels the North Platte River for the majority of its route in Nebraska and as such, runs at a northwest–southeast angle. The highway also parallels the original paths of the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails.

Route description

US-26 enters Nebraska from Wyoming and shortly thereafter enters Henry. After passing through Morrill, US-26 becomes a divided highway. At Mitchell, US-26 meets Nebraska Highway 29 (N‑29). Continuing southeast, US-26 enters Scottsbluff. Through Scottsbluff, US-26 runs concurrent with N‑71 and N‑92 on a highway which goes through northern Scottsbluff. After N‑71 and N‑92 separate, US-26 continues to Minatare, where the divided highway ends. The highway runs due east until an intersection with Link L-62A (L-62A), when the highway turns south. US-26 passes through Bayard and, after crossing the North Platte River, meets with N‑92 again near Chimney Rock.[1][2]

US‑26 and N‑92 turn southeast toward Bridgeport. At Bridgeport, N‑92 separates and US‑26 meets US‑385. They cross the North Platte River together and separate. US‑26 continues southeasterly on the north side of the North Platte River. At Broadwater, US‑26 begins its third concurrency with N‑92. They run together through Lisco, Oshkosh, and Lewellen. At Oshkosh, US‑26 meets N-27. At Lewellen, US‑26 and N‑92 separate for the last time and shortly thereafter, US‑26 crosses the North Platte River again. After passing through Ash Hollow State Historical Park, the highway passes through no communities until meeting N‑61 northwest of Ogallala. US‑26 runs concurrent with N‑61 the rest of its length in Nebraska. The two highways go south to US‑30, then the three highways run concurrent into Ogallala. They then separate from US‑30, turn south to cross the South Platte River and US‑26 ends at I‑80.[1][2]

History

From the creation of the highway in 1926 until the 1930s, US-26 went north of the North Platte River east of Lewellen. This alignment went east to Martin, where US‑26 met N-61 and the two highways went south from there into Ogallala. When Lake McConaughy was built in the 1930s, the current alignment was constructed.[3]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
SiouxHenry0.000.00
US 26 west / California National Historic Trail / Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail / Oregon National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail Torrington, Casper
Continuation into Wyoming
Scotts BluffMitchell13.6822.02
N-29 north (19th Avenue)
Scottsbluff21.6434.83
N-92 west Gering
West end of N-92 overlap
22.2635.82
N-71 north / CR 21
West end of N-71 overlap
25.6741.31

N-71 south / N-92 east Gering, Kimball
East end of N-71/N-92 overlap
Minatare31.9151.35
L-79E south / CR 29 Melbeta
MorrillWest Bayard Precinct41.9567.51
L-62A east Alliance
Former US-26N
Bayard48.8978.68
N-92 west Gering, Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff National Monument
West end of N-92 overlap
Bridgeport61.4298.85

US 385 south / N-92 east / California National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail
East end of N-92 overlap; west end of US 385 overlap
62.42100.46
US 385 north Alliance
East end of US 385 overlap
Broadwater76.49123.10
N-92 west Sidney
West end of N-92 overlap
GardenOshkosh106.05170.67
N-27 south to US 30
Lewellen118.89191.33
N-92 east Lake McConaughy
East end of N-92 overlap
KeithOgallala144.90233.19
N-61 north Lake McConaughy
West end of N-61 overlap
148.02238.22
US 30 west Sidney
West end of US 30 overlap
150.01241.42
US 30 east / Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail / Oregon National Historic Trail
East end of US 30 overlap
150.79242.67
I-80 / N-61 south Sidney, North Platte, Grant
National eastern terminus; east end of N-61 overlap; I-80 exit 126; highway continues south as N-61
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Scottsbluff city route

City plate.svg

U.S. Highway 26 City marker

U.S. Highway 26 City

LocationScottsbluff

US-26N

U.S. Highway 26N marker

U.S. Highway 26N

LocationBayardBroadwater
Existed1936–1959

U.S. Highway 26N (US-26N) existed from 1939 to 1959. It went east along today's L-62A, then south along today's US-385 to just north of Bridgeport and east along today's US‑26 to Broadwater. In those years, the mainline of US‑26 between Bridgeport and Broadwater went on the south side of the North Platte River, along today's N-92.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Nebraska Highway Reference Log Book" (PDF). Nebraska Department of Roads. 2015. pp. 86–90. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Google (November 11, 2010). "overview of U.S. Route 26 in Nebraska" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  3. Whidden, Jesse (June 1, 2003). "Nebraska US Highways 6-38". Nebraska Roads. US 26. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  4. The Nebraska Highways Page: Highways 1 to 30 Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine
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