The intersection at E. 56th St. and Antelope Ave., (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Following a number of accidents and concerns from residents, the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office conducted an informal study of the traffic patterns at the intersection of East 56th Street and Antelope Avenue.
Sheriff Neil Miller and Sgt. Dave Gibbs presented the findings of their informal study during the Buffalo County Commissioners’ meeting on the morning of Tuesday, May 13. Several residents also spoke about their concerns about the intersection.
Sgt. Gibbs said that after receiving calls from concerned residents about the intersection, they held traffic counts on Thursday May 8 and Monday, May 12.
From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., there were 275 vehicles in one hour, with 190 or 69 percent traveling on E. 56th St., and 85 or 31 percent on Antelope Ave.
Later in the day, from 2-3 p.m. there were a total of 373 vehicles in one hour. Of those, 289 or 75 percent traveled on 56th and 93 or 25 percent on Antelope Ave.
On Monday, from 6-7 a.m., there were 187 vehicles in one hour, with 132 or 71 percent on 56th and 55 or 29 percent on Antelope Ave.
For reference, the traffic at a different intersection, E. 39th St. and Antelope Ave, saw 574 vehicles in one hour between 7-8 a.m. There were 418 or 73 percent on E. 39th and 165 or 27 percent on Antelope Ave.
Sgt. Gibbs also investigated accidents numbers from three different intersections on E. 56th St., these included the Highway 10 intersection, E. 39th St. and Antelope Ave.
At the E. 56th and Highway 10 intersection, between 2022 and 2024, there were eight accidents, six of which resulted in injuries.
At the E. 39th and Antelope Ave., between 2022 and early 2025, there were 13 accidents, of which five resulted in injuries.
At the intersection in concern, E. 56th and Antelope Ave., between March 2022 and May 2025, there were 22 accidents, nine of which resulted in injuries.
As recently as Tuesday, May 6, there were two separate accidents at the intersection, one at 1:04 p.m. and 7:32 p.m.
Sgt. Gibbs said he had worked on several of the accidents at E. 56th and Antelope Ave. and in many cases the drivers were westbound when they were involved in a T-bone accident. He said that in many of the cases, the drivers at fault had clean driving records.
In his observations, Sgt. Gibbs also noted that semi traffic is coming off the expressway and entering Kearney through E. 56th St.
Sheriff Miller said deputies have been working the area heavily. In the past several days, deputies have made 15 contacts for stop sign violations at the intersection, Sgt. Gibbs noted.
Both Miller and Sgt. Gibbs opined that many drivers may believe the intersection is a four-way stop, when in fact the E. 56th St. traffic does not stop and is marked my signage in the area.
Miller said, “We believe this intersection needs to be looked at,” and said a more formal study would be needed but said there is consideration for a four-way stop at the intersection.
During the public comment period, Kirk Potter who farms near the intersection, said that since January there have been six accidents at the intersection, including one that involved one of his employees.
Potter opined that there needs to be a four-way stop at the E. 56th and Antelope Ave. intersection and noted that much of the traffic in the morning is younger students who are commuting to school.
Without change, Potter said that something bad is going to happen at the intersection.
Josh Chaney also appeared with similar concerns about the intersection. He also spoke to the 56th St. and Cottonmill Ave. intersection, saying it can be dangerous in the winter.
Broken glass from a past accident remains near the intersection of E. 56th St. and Antelope Ave. (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
