Along I 80 in Nebraska there are ponds along the freeway approx. 1/4 mile long. What is the purpose of them and how do they keep them full? Thanks

In the Midwest when they built the freeways they needed fill dirt to build overpasses, etc... So they dug pits along the road way. Since the ground water is so shallow the pits just filled up to make ponds. If you look you will normally find them near overpasses. Some also collect run off from the road.

My understanding of them is that they were gravel pits in the past. The gravel was used to initially build the first interstate. They are now feed from springs and natural underground water.That's my take on it and lord knows I could be wrong. I was once before!

Like this?https://maps.google.com/?ll=40.698519,-99.615719&spn=0.00937,0.021136&t=h&z=16Much of I80 follows the Platte ('flat') River. So the water table is close to the surface. The pits themselves might be left over from the freeway construction, especially ones close to interchanges where they needed extra soil to build up the overpass.This river was too shallow to use for boat travel, but wagon trains followed it because it was a reliable water source.http://www.nebraskafishing.com/article.aspx?ID=369fishing these borrow pits

Those are called borrow pits. They "borrowed" the dirt to build the interstate and shallow ponds along the road way are the result. They are not uncommon in the midwest along I 35 in Kansas, I70 and I80. I am sure there are probably some along other interstates but I am only familiar with these.

1mtnman wrote:My understanding of them is that they were gravel pits in the past. The gravel was used to initially build the first interstate. They are now feed from springs and natural underground water.That's my take on it and lord knows I could be wrong. I was once before!As stated, when these Interstate and toll roads were constructed, soil samples were also done on the intended route. MANY places were found to have sand or gravel deposits locate just a few feet under the farmers fields where the highway was being built, It was far cheaper and easier to dig out this gravel and sand along the intended route than trucking this same material from miles away. So now we see these small ponds and sometimes rather large ones along the roadways. Some people have even built small 3 season cottages next to these larger ponds.

I 80 Nebraska ??? | Good Sam Community

1mtnman
Explorer II
Nov 25, 2013
My understanding of them is that they were gravel pits in the past. The gravel was used to initially build the first interstate. They are now feed from springs and natural underground water.

That's my take on it and lord knows I could be wrong. I was once before!
mdamerell
Explorer
Nov 25, 2013
In the Midwest when they built the freeways they needed fill dirt to build overpasses, etc... So they dug pits along the road way. Since the ground water is so shallow the pits just filled up to make ponds. If you look you will normally find them near overpasses. Some also collect run off from the road.

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I 80 Nebraska ???

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