Date:

June 22, 2007

For More Information Contact:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831

Wayne Teten, Antelope Valley Project Manger, 441-4939

Mayor Chris Beutler today encouraged the public to take advantage of free Antelope Valley Project tours being offered this month. This is the third year the project partners have presented the tours to give residents a first-hand look at the progress of the flood control, traffic improvement and community revitalization project.

"This year, the theme for our tours is ‘connecting the dots,’" said Mayor Beutler. "Antelope Valley has reached the point where we are really beginning to see the important links this project is creating. One of those is research. With floodplain issues resolved, UNL is actively planning for an expansion of public and private research facilities. This is a huge economic engine for our City and State. Last year, UNL research brought in $104 million in grants - that's the equivalent of 3,000 high-paying jobs. But UNL is running out of space to conduct this research. Antelope Valley is the connection to that research space and those new jobs."

The 90-minute tours are being offered on two dates:

• Thursday, June 28 - bike and bus tours begin at 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, June 30 - bike tour at 9 a.m., bus tours at 9 and 11 a.m.
• Bike tours will begin at the southeast corner of 21st and “N” streets. Bus tours will begin with a presentation in the City Council Chambers, 555 South 10th Street. To sign up for a tour, residents can call 458-5969 or visit the City Web site, lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: antelope).

Tours will include construction of the "P" and "Q" street bridges; views of the completed Antelope Creek Waterway and the portions being built; area redevelopment projects, including the Liberty Village affordable housing project; the research and development corridor; and the Big "X" elevated roadway.

Antelope Valley is a joint project of the City of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District. An economic analysis projects that for every dollar spent on the project, the private sector will respond with at least three dollars of private investment and redevelopment in the area. For more information or to comment on the Antelope Valley Project, visit the City Web site, call the Antelope Valley Hotline at 458-5969 or send an e-mail to antelopevalley@oaconsulting.com.