SCOTTSBLUFF STAR-HERALD: Investing in Nebraska’s Panhandle

This press release from Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) was published on 2026-10-09 and titled "SCOTTSBLUFF STAR-HERALD: Investing in Nebraska’s Panhandle".

SCOTTSBLUFF STAR-HERALD: Investing in Nebraska’s Panhandle

In Nebraska's Panhandle, every runway, road, and waterway plays a role in keeping people connected and communities moving forward. When we prioritize this infrastructure, we invest in Western Nebraska's future. That is why I have prioritized supporting several essential projects in the Panhandle: extending the taxiway at Western Nebraska Regional Airport, enhancing the Heartland Expressway, and restoring the Gering-Fort Laramie Canal. With daily flights to Denver, the Western Nebraska Regional Airport provides Nebraskans easy access to international air travel - and attracts business and visitors to our state. Importantly, it accommodates more than 100 diverted flights from Denver each year. In August, I was honored to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the 3,500-foot taxiway extension. Now, the airport can easily accommodate diverted flights and larger aircraft - all while reducing potential runway incursions and increasing efficiency on the airfield. I used my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure $3.5 million for this effort. The Western Nebraska Regional Airport has also benefited from over $16 million allocated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This is exactly why I voted for this legislation in 2021: the significant amount of federal funds that Nebraska stood to benefit from. It was heartening to see that funding being put to good use here in Scottsbluff. Along with air travel, a strong highway network keeps the Panhandle's farms, businesses, families, and communities connected to markets across the region. Completing the Heartland Expressway, a highway corridor connecting Nebraska cities to surrounding states, will contribute tremendously to the Panhandle's economy. That's why I secured $6 million to add safety enhancements to the highway. With paved shoulders, widened passing lanes, new guardrails, and much-needed bridge repairs, this stretch of road will improve safety and connectivity for the people who rely on it every day - and bring even more business to the Panhandle. Agriculture is the economic engine of our state, and reliable irrigation systems are more important than ever for producers in the current drought. The Gering-Fort Laramie Canal plays a vital role in delivering water to approximately 55,000 acres in Nebraska. Since the canal's devastating tunnel collapse in 2o19, a full replacement project has been underway. This year, I was proud to secure $14.6 million to supplement the project. And following my effort, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced an additional $100 million investment, made possible through the Working Families Tax Cuts . This is just one of the many benefits of this transformational law, which I voted for and Congress enacted last year. This canal is a lifeline for farming communities in Scotts Bluff County, and I will continue to push to get it over the finish line. These types of infrastructure improvements are investments in the future of the Panhandle, our state, and our country. And these projects were made possible because Nebraskans identified a need in their community and took action. I encourage all Nebraskans to do the same and contact my office if we can be of assistance. I am honored to serve as your senior U.S. senator and pleased to bring these investments back to our state.