Hwy 281 and Hwy 136 Construction Routes
The long-planned Nebraska Department of Transportation Red Cloud project gets underway April 6, 2026. To make your visit to Red Cloud and the National Willa Cather Center a little easier, we wanted to share NDOT's information and add some suggestions of our own!
Important! Through traffic will be directed to detour off of both Highway 281 and Highway 136. If you intend to visit Red Cloud, you're local traffic, and you won't detour from the highways until you're in town. Please see the detour map below.
Getting to Red Cloud
Through traffic will be directed to detour off of both Highway 281 and Highway 136. If you're intending to visit Red Cloud, you're local traffic, and you won't detour from the highway until you're in town. Please see the detour map below.
If you're coming from Kansas or points south on Hwy 281:
You'll be directed to detour at Highway 36 to Highway 128.
Instead, stay on Highway 281 northbound. That roadway will remain open, although parking on Webster Street near our building may be limited. See "Getting to the the NWCC" below.
If you're coming from Interstate 80 or points north:
You'll be directed to detour at Highway 4 to go East to Guide Rock or West to Franklin.
Instead, stay on Highway 281 southbound. The local traffic detour will have you turn right on 11th Avenue, then take Seward Street toward the National Willa Cather Center. See "Getting to the NWCC" below.
If you're coming from Superior or points east on Hwy 136:
You'll be directed to detour north on Highway 128 at the Guide Rock corner.
Instead, stay on Highway 136 westbound until you reach Red Cloud, then follow the in-town detours. See "Getting to the NWCC" below.
If you're coming from Franklin or points west on Hwy 136:
You'll be directed to detour north on Highway 10 in Franklin.
Instead, stay on Highway 136 eastbound until you reach Red Cloud, then follow the in-town detours. See "Getting to the NWCC" below.
Getting to the NWCC
Once inside Red Cloud city limits, it's still easy to visit the National Willa Cather Center by using the detour routes.
Northbound Hwy 281 will stay on Webster Street throughout the project. Parking on Webster Street will be limited.
To visit the NWCC, please use the following guides to alternate parking and entrances:
If you're northbound on Hwy 281:
Stay on Webster Street and turn left on West 7th Avenue.
Turn left again on Cedar Street.
1/2 block south of West 5th Avenue, on the left, is a driveway to a city parking lot. You may park in that lot or in the designated NWCC tenant and customer parking immediately behind our building.
The NWCC building has designated parking and glass double doors with our logo.
If you're southbound on Hwy 281:
You'll be directed to detour at 11th Avenue, which is a right turn.
Turn left on Seward Street.
Turn left on West 5th Avenue.
Turn right on North Cedar Street.
Halfway down the block, on the left, is a driveway to a city parking lot. You may park in that lot or in the designated NWCC tenant and customer parking immediately behind our building.
The NWCC building has designated parking and glass double doors with our logo.
If you're coming from Superior or points east on Hwy 136:
You'll be directed to detour at North Elm Street, which is a left turn.
Go one block south on Elm Street.
Turn right on West 3rd Avenue.
Turn right on North Cedar Street and go 1 1/2 blocks (just across 4th Avenue).
Halfway up the block, on the right, is a driveway to a city parking lot. You may park in that lot or in the designated NWCC tenant and customer parking immediately behind our building.
The NWCC building has designated parking and glass double doors with our logo.
If you're coming from Franklin or points west on Hwy 136:
The detour begins at North Seward Street. Turn ahead of the detour on North Walnut Street, a left turn.
Go one block North on Walnut Street.
Turn right on West 5th Avenue and go 2 blocks.
Turn right on North Cedar Street and go 1/2 block South.
Halfway down the block, on the left, is a driveway to a city parking lot. You may park in that lot or in the designated NWCC tenant and customer parking immediately behind our building.
The NWCC building has designated parking and glass double doors with our logo.
For Our Lodging Guests
Our historic lodging properties are open and ready to welcome you throughout construction! Here are a few tips to make your stay great!
- Use the detour routes above to get to our lodging properties. Entry doors are in the same locations!
- Villa Willa is directly in the construction area. You can expect some extra noise and dust—we will provide disposable ear plugs, and we ask that you please keep windows closed to keep dust and debris out of the building.
- Villa Willa has one parking place designated in our parking area. If you have multiple vehicles, we ask that you park them in the city parking lot across the alley after unloading.
- The Cather Second Home is located along the southbound detour route. We recommend you park in the driveway and drive through the alley to exit, since Seward Street is likely to be busier than usual.
- In addition to the beautiful porches on the East side of the Cather Second Home facing Seward street, you can always use the brick patio and yard near the alley to avoid periods of heavier traffic.
For Our Tour Guests
We will continue to operate tours of our Willa Cather historic properties, but we anticipate that routes on the tours will change day by day.
- Our driving tours will depart from the West side of the NWCC building. Your guide will instruct you to follow them for the best route.
- At this time, the details of our walking tours are a little murky. Pedestrians will need to be mindful of all the ongoing work to sidewalks, streets, and disruption of traffic. Your tour guides can give you the details when you arrive.
