Official: Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri May 27, 2011 7:04 pm

What's wrong with just the Kerry? I don't expect everyone to call it that long official name but do people even know it has a name?

ShawJ · Post by **ShawJ** » Fri May 27, 2011 7:40 pm

Everyone I have ever talked to calls it the "pedestrian bridge." I think a lot of people don't realize it actually has a name, at least from my observations.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon May 30, 2011 4:03 pm

I'm totally with D'Shawn; I call it the Kerrey Bridge, which I think is nice, short, has a ring to it, and is accurate. I hate it being called "the Bob" or just generically "the pedestrian bridge".

I think it could be called something fun like "the Omacoblu Bridge" (pronounced "O-muh-co-bluh"), as in Omaha and Council Bluffs. But whatever, I don't think the name is changing anytime soon, and people will call it what they call it. The important thing is that it's there and that people are talking about it, using it, and enjoying it!

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 2:46 am

According to the1wags, I never posted this crazy shot of the bridge!

Who wants curves!!!

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 3:16 am

Nice shot...I have never seen a picture from that angle before. I think it truly captures the curves on the bridge.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 10:39 pm

It is closed on the CB side until further notice.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 3:27 pm

iamjacobm wrote:It is closed on the CB side until further notice.

Did they give any reasons? I heard the other day they closed it to remove some trees, but then opened it back up. Is it still the trees or are they trying to keep people off of the Levee?

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 4:03 pm

All I saw were "safety issues." The Omaha side is still open so I assume it is to keep people off of the levees, but I don't know for sure.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:39 pm

Brad wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:It is closed on the CB side until further notice.
Did they give any reasons? I heard the other day they closed it to remove some trees, but then opened it back up. Is it still the trees or are they trying to keep people off of the Levee?

The news report I saw said they closed it try to discourage all the viewers from blocking all the streets in the housing area in case they needed to get fire truck/ambulance down there.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:34 pm

"Bridge is Designed to Stay Open"

WOWT wrote:The Council Bluffs side of the bridge closed at noon on Saturday, and will remain closed until further notice. The closure stems from concern over trees leaning dangerously close the bridge near the Council Bluffs shore. Mayor Suttle says he and Council Bluffs Mayor, Tom Hanafan had extended talks about the issue before the closure and he understands why Hanafan made his decision, but Suttle says he will keep the Omaha side open as long as possible.

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:13 pm

back in business

With river levels continuing to drop, the city plans to reopen the Council Bluffs entrance to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge on Saturday at 7 a.m., the same time city trails will reopen.

http://www.ketv.com/missouri-river-floo ... etail.html

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:21 am

This is our first pedestrian bridge jumper isn't it?

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:24 am

It is indeed.

bigredmed · Post by **bigredmed** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 4:17 am

Brad wrote:
DTO Luv wrote:Why does no one call it by it's name? Ignorance or is it because he's a Democrat? I've always wondered.
I am guessing people like shorter names.
Matt
Qwest
Civic
Blatt
Trade
Ped Bridge

For me I just call it the "ped bridge" because that's what we were calling in on here for years before it ever got a name.

Short names are better. Kerry is still alive, was a controversial figure in the senate, and this was named for him as a payoff earmark, thus it sticks in your craw when you use the name and think back to it. Also, Leahy was a democrat, but was generally seen as a good mayor who worked hard at converting a bunch of old stores and whorehouses into our current downtown. While the whorehouses of yore were massive industrial scale facilities, I like what we have better, and given that this name is an honorific for a guy who did a good job and lived his post mayoral life productively, so even though he is not my party, its cool to call it the Gene Leahy Mall.

Also, the Leahy Mall is a shorter name than the Central Park Mall, and doesn't sound so New Yorky.

bigredmed · Post by **bigredmed** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 4:17 am

Brad wrote:
DTO Luv wrote:Why does no one call it by it's name? Ignorance or is it because he's a Democrat? I've always wondered.
I am guessing people like shorter names.
Matt
Qwest
Civic
Blatt
Trade
Ped Bridge

For me I just call it the "ped bridge" because that's what we were calling in on here for years before it ever got a name.

Short names are better. Kerry is still alive, was a controversial figure in the senate, and this was named for him as a payoff earmark, thus it sticks in your craw when you use the name and think back to it. Also, Leahy was a a democrat, but was generally seen as a good mayor who worked hard at converting a bunch of old stores and whorehouses into our current downtown. While the whorehouses of yore were massive industrial scale facilities, I like what we have better, and given that this name is an honorific for a guy who did a good job and lived his post mayoral life productively, so even though he is not my party, its cool to call it the Gene Leahy Mall.

Also, the Leahy Mall is a shorter name than the Central Park Mall, and doesn't sound so New Yorky.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:48 am

Bob Kerry is a Congressional Medal of Honor winner and a war hero. He was considered a moderate here in Washington and a popular Senator, well liked by his colleagues from both parties. I've met him a few times over the years and even had a fairly lengthy conversation with him at reception several years ago. He is one of the most gracious elected officials I've met (and I've met several). I've not once ever heard of him referred to as "controversial". I'm sure with time you'll learn to pronounce his name without clenching your teeth.

Almost everyone on the Hill takes advantage of earmarks. They only tends to 'stick in your craw' if they're procured by a member of the opposing party

....and BTW, most of the whorehouses back in the 60's were just west and north of downtown, and the street walkers worked mostly west of 14th St, especially around the big hotels.

bigredmed · Post by **bigredmed** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 12:52 pm

ricko wrote:Bob Kerry is a Congressional Medal of Honor winner and a war hero. He was considered a moderate here in Washington and a popular Senator, well liked by his colleagues from both parties. I've met him a few times over the years and even had a fairly lengthy conversation with him at reception several years ago. He is one of the most gracious elected officials I've met (and I've met several). I've not once ever heard of him referred to as "controversial". I'm sure with time you'll learn to pronounce his name without clenching your teeth.

Almost everyone on the Hill takes advantage of earmarks. They only tends to 'stick in your craw' if they're procured by a member of the opposing party

....and BTW, most of the whorehouses back in the 60's were just west and north of downtown, and the street walkers worked mostly west of 14th St, especially around the big hotels.

The whorehouse I referred to is now part of I480, and was still downtown in the 60's, but was then used as a drug rehab center. The big industrial scale prostitution area is where the Clink is now.

HuskerDave · Post by **HuskerDave** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 4:18 pm

ricko wrote:Bob Kerry is a Congressional Medal of Honor winner and a war hero. He was considered a moderate here in Washington and a popular Senator, well liked by his colleagues from both parties. I've met him a few times over the years and even had a fairly lengthy conversation with him at reception several years ago. He is one of the most gracious elected officials I've met (and I've met several). I've not once ever heard of him referred to as "controversial". I'm sure with time you'll learn to pronounce his name without clenching your teeth.

Almost everyone on the Hill takes advantage of earmarks. They only tends to 'stick in your craw' if they're procured by a member of the opposing party

....and BTW, most of the whorehouses back in the 60's were just west and north of downtown, and the street walkers worked mostly west of 14th St, especially around the big hotels.

Bob Kerry is a Medal of Honor winner who threw his medals over the fence of the White House as a protest. Bob Kerry is a man who went to Senate hearings and lied about what he had seen in Viet Nam and exaggerated his own war record. Bob Kerry was a well-documented traitor to his fellow soldiers. Bob Kerry had the most liberal voting record in Washington until Barack Obama joined the Senate.

If you've never heard Bob Kerry referred to as controversial, then I have to wonder if you need a hearing test.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 4:34 pm

I'm a man who discovered the wheel, and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal and brawn! That's what kind of man I am.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:23 pm

HuskerDave wrote:
ricko wrote:Bob Kerry is a Congressional Medal of Honor winner and a war hero. He was considered a moderate here in Washington and a popular Senator, well liked by his colleagues from both parties. I've met him a few times over the years and even had a fairly lengthy conversation with him at reception several years ago. He is one of the most gracious elected officials I've met (and I've met several). I've not once ever heard of him referred to as "controversial". I'm sure with time you'll learn to pronounce his name without clenching your teeth.

Almost everyone on the Hill takes advantage of earmarks. They only tends to 'stick in your craw' if they're procured by a member of the opposing party

....and BTW, most of the whorehouses back in the 60's were just west and north of downtown, and the street walkers worked mostly west of 14th St, especially around the big hotels.
Bob Kerry is a Medal of Honor winner who threw his medals over the fence of the White House as a protest. Bob Kerry is a man who went to Senate hearings and lied about what he had seen in Viet Nam and exaggerated his own war record. Bob Kerry was a well-documented traitor to his fellow soldiers. Bob Kerry had the most liberal voting record in Washington until Barack Obama joined the Senate.

If you've never heard Bob Kerry referred to as controversial, then I have to wonder if you need a hearing test.

He certainly voted on liberal issues as a Democrat, but he was a founding member of the New Democratic Coalition, a moderate group of Democrats on the Hill. I couldn't find any evidence of him throwing medals over the fence at he White House----I'd appreciate a link on that one. I do know that he went to Washington to ACCEPT the medal of honor at the White House from Richard Nixon while many others WERE throwing their medals over the fence. I know that Senator JOHN Kerry did something like that at the Capitol building.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:20 pm

Brad wrote:According to the1wags, I never posted this crazy shot of the bridge!

Who wants curves!!!

Look how similar these are!

Post by **Brad** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:25 pm

Your image won't load?

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:38 pm

Brad wrote:Your image won't load?

Hmm, it's working for me.

Either way it is the Memorial Park bridge from the same vantage point. It and the Bob Kerry Ped Bridge have incredibly similar curvature.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:40 pm

Cool, its working now. Interesting.

Seth · Post by **Seth** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:34 am

iamjacobm wrote:
Look how similar these are!

Yeah, except one of them doesn't have rust stains running down nasty green paint.

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:31 pm

From next weeks city council agenda.

32. Res. that, as recommended by the Mayor, the Professional Services Agreement between the City of Omaha and Leo A. Daly, in the total amount of $66,700.00, to provide professional design services for the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge pylon lighting, 705 Riverfront Drive, including lighting design, electrical engineering, and structural engineering for lighting modifications, is hereby accepted and the Purchasing Agent is authorized to issue a purchase order in conformance herewith. Funds in this amount shall be paid from the Pedestrian Trail Bridge – Joint use Omaha/Council Bluffs Fund No. 13419 and Organization No. 131761, Mo River Pedestrian Bridge – see attached.
33.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:33 am

So what does that mean....they are replacing the lighting with some other type of lighting or are they just going to redo the current lighting?

byrdrules · Post by **byrdrules** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:36 am

The "design" aspect leads me to believe that they are adding new lighting.

jessep28 · Post by **jessep28** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 2:19 am

byrdrules wrote:The "design" aspect leads me to believe that they are adding new lighting.

A study hasn't been done yet to my knowledge, so that would logically be the first step.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:07 am

jessep28 wrote:
byrdrules wrote:The "design" aspect leads me to believe that they are adding new lighting.
A study hasn't been done yet to my knowledge, so that would logically be the first step.

We should do a study to analyze how effective such a study would be.

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:22 pm

Maybe it means they are finally fixing the lights at the tops of the pylons.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:56 pm

Good, I hope they fix it soon!

They need to fix all the other stuff that idiots have broke on the bridge too... Several of the informational plaques are missing now.

Seth · Post by **Seth** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:29 pm

Brad wrote:They need to fix all the other stuff that idiots have broke on the bridge too... Several of the informational plaques are missing now.

"And that's the reason, children, that we can't have anything nice."

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:01 pm

Reading through the agreement:
http://www.cityofomaha.org/cityclerk/im ... ec/794.pdf

It looks like they will Fix or Replace. It also says the design sould be complete within 60 days of the agreement being signed. I did not see a time table on construction.

Did anyone hear if this was passed?

EDIT - IT PASSED 7-0!

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:00 pm

Brad wrote:Reading through the agreement:
http://www.cityofomaha.org/cityclerk/im ... ec/794.pdf

It looks like they will Fix or Replace. It also says the design sould be complete within 60 days of the agreement being signed. I did not see a time table on construction.

Did anyone hear if this was passed?

EDIT - IT PASSED 7-0!

Is it me, or does this $68k look to just be for design services, and not to actually fix anything? I can't believe they're paying someone to essentially tell them what lightbulbs need replacing,

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:10 pm

Ben wrote:Is it me, or does this $68k look to just be for design services, and not to actually fix anything? I can't believe they're paying someone to essentially tell them what lightbulbs need replacing,

It is just design. Look at the last page of that PDF, it shows their billing rates.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:42 pm

So basically what is happening is they're spending money to redesign the lighting because the original design didn't work? I'm thinking whoever |expletive| up the first design should be footing the bill.

Seth · Post by **Seth** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 2:31 am

Bugeater wrote:So basically what is happening is they're spending money to redesign the lighting because the original design didn't work? I'm thinking whoever |expletive| up the first design should be footing the bill.

Or at least their errors and omissions policy should be!

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 2:50 pm

Per todays city council agenda: The contract for the LED lighting, at the top of the pylons, will be approved today with completion by this December