[1][3] The freeway bisects Max E. Roper Park, which lies between residential neighborhoods in West Lincoln and Belmont along a small stream.

[5] In its 1955 plan for a national system of grade-separated superhighways, the federal Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) recommended an east–west corridor bypassing Lincoln with a north–south spur connecting it to the city center.

[11][12][13] Governor Ralph Brooks imposed a January 1, 1960, deadline for a routing decision in lieu of a proposed deferral of planning funds for the project.

[19] By the end of 1962, damp weather and a strike by a local engineers' union slowed construction of the freeway, particularly the bridges over the Lincoln railyard.

[18][28][29] The project and its proposed detours on local streets were opposed by the downtown chamber of commerce, who feared its negative effects on business access.

[30] The southbound lanes closed on December 1, 1996, following the end of the 1996 football season to prevent disruption around home games for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

[31][32] The new southbound bridge opened on June 10, 1997,[33] having been completed 61 days ahead of schedule by contractor Hawkins Construction, who earned a $1.2 million bonus.

Construction was briefly delayed due to the discovery of nesting cliff swallows, a protected migratory bird species, under the old bridge in June 2003, which prevented demolition work from continuing.