Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge (Part Two)

[almighty_tuna]

Looks like The Bob is getting its own postage stamp!

https://www.wowt.com/2022/12/14/bob-ker ... mp-series/

[skinzfan23]

thanks for posting, that is pretty cool. Wish they could have included the view facing southwest towards downtown

[Coyote]

Where will find such stamps when they arrive here?


Omaha landmark to be featured on United States Postal Service stamp for 2023

The United States Postal Service announced Wednesday that a famous Omaha landmark will be featured on a postage stamp for 2023. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge will be one of four new presorted first-class mail stamps from the Postal Service. According to the postal service, the stamps — designed by art director Ethel Kessler — will feature existing photographs of four bridges, which range from modern to historic and pedestrian to car-carrying. The other bridges are the Arrigoni Bridge in Middletown, CT; the Skydance Bridge in Oklahoma City; and the Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge in Bettendorf, IA, and Moline, IL. The stamps will be available to purchase by bulk mail users in 3,000 and 10,000, according to USPS.

[Omaha Cowboy]

This is great news. I suspect we could pick up the BOB stamps at a grocery or drug store..If not, definitely the post office…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[S.O.Boy]

[NEDodger]

Sounds like you will only be able to buy it in massive bulk - 3,000 stamp minimum order. Bummer.

[omahahawk]

Sounds like you will only be able to buy it in massive bulk - 3,000 stamp minimum order. Bummer.

I noticed that as well and found it hard to believe. In any case, the article I saw referenced a previous article about the Baby Bob being completed in Summer 23. Wouldn't you think that would mean construction would have to start really soon?

[nebugeater]

They are for bulk mailing and not the typical postage that the average Joe will use. Too bad on that but great there will be a stamp with this bridge

[almighty_tuna]

The good news is that with the volume of junk mail I get there absolutely zero chance I won't see this within a week of its release!

[orangeboots]

Great news for us Iowa folks. The NDOT has put out a RFP for the Baby Bob. Bid opening is March 2nd. Start date May 10th

[ita]

Great news for us Iowa folks. The NDOT has put out a RFP for the Baby Bob. Bid opening is March 2nd. Start date May 10th

Nice find! The bid page is here: https://www.bidx.com/ne/proposal?contid=22571

While you can't see the details, you can see the construction plans at this link that on the right side of the page:



From what I can tell, it's largely utilitarian. Notwithstanding, I can't be more excited. A couple of notes, they will be making that northeast corner of 10th and Meca into a nicer pedestrian plaza. They are also adding a gated access road connecting lot D and the eastern end of Meca Drive.

[MetcalfeHarrison]

Final completion not until November 30, 2024. Really wish this would have been out to bid last fall to speed up the process.

[Brad]

Final completion not until November 30, 2024. Really wish this would have been out to bid last fall to speed up the process.

As I said a few months on Grow Omaha, this should have been built when the ballpark was built not 14 years later...

[Louie]

Final completion not until November 30, 2024. Really wish this would have been out to bid last fall to speed up the process.

As I said a few months on Grow Omaha, this should have been built when the ballpark was built not 14 years later...

Crazy they didn't think about it then. Or was it originally in the plan?

[MetcalfeHarrison]

Final completion not until November 30, 2024. Really wish this would have been out to bid last fall to speed up the process.

As I said a few months on Grow Omaha, this should have been built when the ballpark was built not 14 years later...

Crazy they didn't think about it then. Or was it originally in the plan?

I think the initial plans had this portion included, but it was cut when they came in way over budget. It's been in the works since they finished the main bridge, but obviously this is a lot later than anyone wanted.

[Brad]

I don't think they saw the need for it back then, that other bridge behind the arna points right at the bridge and was the logical place to put it back before the ballpark and anything in north downtown was built.

[Louie]

I don't think they saw the need for it back then, that other bridge behind the arna points right at the bridge and was the logical place to put it back before the ballpark and anything in north downtown was built.

Thats a good point. North dt is a whole nother animal than it was back then.

[omahahawk]

If the bid opening was yesterday, I am wondering when we will see the final selection as apparently construction is to start in May.

[Brad]

If the bid opening was yesterday, I am wondering when we will see the final selection as apparently construction is to start in May.

Not sure how this bid works, but when we do "Bid Openings" at work, the bidders know immediately who won the bid and the price.

[MetcalfeHarrison]

If the bid opening was yesterday, I am wondering when we will see the final selection as apparently construction is to start in May.

Not sure how this bid works, but when we do "Bid Openings" at work, the bidders know immediately who won the bid and the price.

Yes, if you look at the letting from NDOT on Thursday they will usually post results as an attachment the same day.

https://www.bidx.com/ne/letting?lettingid=23030201

It's interesting that they did it through NDOT since it is a City of Omaha job, but they must think they will get more reach this way. From the Apparent Low Bidders document, it looks like Hawkins Construction Company was low and they give a start day of 5/10/23.

From what I have heard though, between the CWS and the long lead time on some key materials, I would be surprised if we saw much activity on site before fall.

[GetUrban]

I don't think they saw the need for it back then, that other bridge behind the arna points right at the bridge and was the logical place to put it back before the ballpark and anything in north downtown was built.

Thats a good point. North dt is a whole nother animal than it was back then.

On the first go-around of the Bob Kerrey bridge project in 2001-2003 that eventually came in way over budget, there was a lot of discussion and preliminary design drawings that looked at the connection across the railroad tracks to near the north side of what is now the CHI. They realized the money wasn’t there at the time for the extension so it wasn’t pursued any further into construction documents and bidding, which was good, since the bids came in way too high anyway. I’m surprised it has taken this long to get the connection built, considering how much development has happened in NDT.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I’m surprised it has taken this long to get the connection built, considering how much development has happened in NDT.

Agreed..

TBH, I’ve been saying this for about 5 years now..as I’m sure many of us here have…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Coyote]

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge shines blue for Alzheimer's awareness



The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha was lit blue Thursday night to raise awareness for Alzheimer's.

[zippy]

The bridge was shown on a video clue on Jeopardy! yesterday. The shot was from the northeast and showed the Luminarium and possibly the crane at Mutual's tower.

[BRoss]

20240831_135731.jpg

[skinzfan23]

Anyone know when they added a beacon light to the west pylon on the bridge? I have never noticed it before but it blinks red at night and white in the day.

[Brad]

One from tonight:

1.

20260323881A5083.jpg

.

[nativeomahan]

Spectacular!

[Brad]

Spectacular!

Thanks, it was a great night!

[iamjacobm]

Saw the fountain/splash pad at the foot of the bridge running for the first time in ages today.

[thenewguy]

Saw the fountain/splash pad at the foot of the bridge running for the first time in ages today.

we were just over there and that was good to see. I was also hoping to go walk through the new trail by the adventure tower but it's blocked