n a few years, Omaha will not only look completely different along the river front, there will also be new and rebuilt streets to get you there. A complex plan is being laid out that will rearrange and extend streets to accommodate traffic to and from the new convention center. Sixth Street will also be extended north from Douglas Street through Lewis and Clark Landing then further north to the new Gallup Organization's Campus and finally connecting to the newly laid out Abbott Drive.

Lamp Rynearson and Associates engineering firm has a $1.9 million contract with the city to design sewers, streets and surface parking lots in the vicinity of the convention center. All together, more than $20 million will be spent on paving, lighting, landscaping and highway ramp construction. Most of the work on the street system is to take place next year.

Changes to the street system besides the extension of sixth street include:

Also included in the project will be five surface parking lots around the convention center and a parking garage on the south side of the arena.

The City Planning Department and the engineering firm both feel the new street system will handle traffic around the area with efficiency.