Pedestrian Bridge

Calibraskan · Post by **Calibraskan** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 2:21 am

What's the latest on the bridge?.....Last I heard (which seems like long ago) the design had been slightly revised to cut cost, but I've lost track of what happened since. What's the current funding shortage and is anything being done to raise the cash?

Too bad they didn't design in a tall observation deck in the middle....they could have charged a buck or two to go up and help pay for the thing.

I really want to see that thing built (!!!), but I'm afraid the chances of the city coughing up extra money are now even slimmer with the projected Convention Center revenue shortfall. Ironically, not that the bridge would significantly help get conventions....It wouldn't hurt. 'Could certainly add some punch to the promo literature photos, no?

(Sorry if there's already a "bridge thread" I haven't noticed)

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:40 pm

Theres been a couple threads on this but as the reports on this project are so few and far between, they're pretty old. They've been moving a little excavated dirt from the condos here and there but so far there doesn't appear to be any obvious indications that it is happening.

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:26 pm

I should add though that as of last report, both Omaha and CB seemed to be getting close to having their share of the $. I'm assuming though that convention revenue shortfall might impact this project as well.

Calibraskan · Post by **Calibraskan** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:00 am

Thanks....And good to hear that it doesn't sound all negative. I guess I haven't heard much because not much has happened.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 3:57 am

I don't know what the convention center's shortfalls would have to do with the bridge. Omaha already has their share of the $5M needed to pay for the bridge. CB just needs to get their act together.

reddomaha · Post by **reddomaha** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:56 pm

During the open house, River Front Place, Ross Rob (principal developer) mentioned that the city has $25 million to spend on the project. This is also what the price estimate range was, but as Ross put it, the city sent it out for bid and it came back at $47 million dollars, so nearly $50 million.

Needless to say that was a kick to the nuts!

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:20 pm

reddomaha wrote:During the open house, River Front Place, Ross Rob (principal developer) mentioned that the city has $25 million to spend on the project. This is also what the price estimate range was, but as Ross put it, the city sent it out for bid and it came back at $47 million dollars, so nearly $50 million.

Needless to say that was a kick to the nuts!

I'm assuming that was the first bid package though right? Supposedly, they were going to send out another RFP but so far that process has been a pretty tightly guarded secret.

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:42 pm

That $47 million figure was the original quote from the initial RFPs. The project has made several cost-saving measures that have greatly reduced the overall price tag. Part of the original problem was understanidng the scope of a project of this magnitude for which we and some of the bidders had little frame of reference. The bridge deck was shortened considerably on the Iowa side (no longer going all the way to the levy, more plastic was instituted into the plan (cables) to offset the rising price of steel and excavation fill from the RFP job is being stockpiled for the bridge ramp. The project should be close to an announcement as I mentioned earlier in another post (when I said near the end of the summer). Hopefully, we hear something soon but this project will come to fruition!

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:19 pm

Finn wrote: Hopefully, we hear something soon but this project will come to fruition!

I hope so. And so far Finn has been a very reliable source of information so I would tend to agree. Also, Fahey did elude to the fact he thought it would get done in the mayoral debate. Not that that necesarilly means anything, but at least its somewhat encouraging. Not to mention, I remember reading an article a while back that quoted somebody at the Chamber of Commerce as saying "Mr. Fahey may have something BIG on the horizon". Given the context of the article, it seemed pretty obvious what the speaker was alluding to. Again, anybody could read anything into that so.......hopefully something is on the horizon. I'm sure the condo developers would love to have this confirmed so they could concretely use it as a selling point for their new units.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:09 am

I thinking they're hoping to add the title of "Longest Time Span" to their title of "Longest Pedestrian Span."

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:41 pm

Well, hopefully if this thing is in the works, sufficient buzz will start soon enough to get the city to spill the beans in the near future. Think Grow Omaha Show, City Weekly, etc. And it is a pretty big deal so I can see where it would take a while but IMHO the time is at hand, especially if we would like to see it done by the time the Olympic trials, NCAA stuff, and (hopefully) some bigger conventions land.

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:17 pm

Anybody heard anymore news recently? Surely an announcement should be close at hand.

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:44 pm

fahey is coming to speak at a meeting i am attending on monday the 24th, i will ask him how this project is coming along

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:46 pm

Please do. Not sure how wild he is about the whole thing but I think he wants to get it done too. I am sure we would all appreciate anything you could tell us about his response. Thanks.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:12 am

With as long as this is all taking ... I'd almost guess their stripped down proposal would be getting nearly as expensive as the initial bid.

I'll be very depressed if this bridge doesn't get built.

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:53 pm

jhuston wrote:With as long as this is all taking ... I'd almost guess their stripped down proposal would be getting nearly as expensive as the initial bid.

I'll be very depressed if this bridge doesn't get built.

No doubt. It would really be the signature piece of that development and to drop the ball when so much money has already been earmarked for it would be shameful.

omaha rules · Post by **omaha rules** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:14 pm

Just wanted to say hi to everybody and say what a great site this is. Hope this bridge gets built too.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:47 pm

Hi! Welcome to the site, I think it rules, too!

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 6:12 pm

omahastylee459 wrote:fahey is coming to speak at a meeting i am attending on monday the 24th, i will ask him how this project is coming along

Stylee, don't know if you had your meeting or had a chance to speak to Mr. Fahey today but am just wondering if you got any new news to tell. Thanks.

omaha rules · Post by **omaha rules** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 2:50 pm

Yeah, Stylee, any news?