( Linocln)-- During the month of April, the Nebraska Department of Roads will celebrate 25 years of “Adopt-a-Highway.”  This internationally-acclaimed litter-pickup program got its start in Tyler, Texas in 1985; other states soon followed. 

Nebraska implemented its Adopt-a-Highway Program in April of 1990. Whether big and bulky or small and smelly, all kinds of items litter their way onto the roadsides, creating an eyesore.  Close to 900 Adopt-a-Highway groups across the state, with an estimated 18,000 volunteers, work together to tackle this problem.

As part of their group’s agreement, Adopt-a-Highway volunteers pick up litter on their adopted segment of highway twice a year for two years. Volunteers are from local church, civil and school groups, as well as 4-H clubs, individuals, businesses and families.  All volunteers share a spirit of pride in their state.  Of these nearly 900 groups, 35 have been with the program the entire 25 years.

On April 8, Governor Pete Ricketts will proclaim April 2015 as “Adopt-a-Highway Volunteer Appreciation Month” in Nebraska, during a proclamation ceremony at 10:00 a.m. in the Warner Chambers at the State Capitol. 

 In addition, the month of April is designated as the 

“Great Nebraska Trash-Off” – a time for all groups to conduct spring cleaning in their areas. Go to http://www.roads.nebraska.gov/operations/maintenance/adopt-hiway/docs/Memo-to-groups-about-25-yrs.pdf to view a list of the 35 Nebraska groups who have been part of Adopt-a-Highway for 25 years.