Pedestrian Bridge Progressing

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New development proposed on Iowa side
Posted: 3:38 PM Mar 28, 2008
Last Updated: 7:44 PM Mar 28, 2008

36 comments

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The pedestrian bridge linking Omaha to Council Bluffs is expected to be in place in a matter of months.

The timetable for completion of the $22 million bridge is going fairly well. It should be finished in November.

Construction crews are currently laying the walking deck of the bridge and everything is being checked, including hairline cracks in some of the concrete.

HNTB Corporation's Christian Brown is helping to oversee the project and he says, "Concrete cracks of this nature that we've seen on the pedestrian bridge pre-cast deck panels are what we would call a non-meaningful crack meaning that they're really inconsequential."

Some walkers who now use the riverfront have big plans for the pedestrian bridge.

Merl Harder says, "I'm looking forward to using it. I'm gonna be biking it -- biking the trail on both sides."

Ken Havick adds, "I think it's a great asset to the city. I can't wait until it's done."

Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan says plans are in the works to alter the landscape on the Iowa side of the bridge.

He says, "The requests for proposals are out now and we're just waiting for those replies to come in."

Construction on the development in Council Bluffs has not been set yet but Hanafan says the Iowa side will offer scenery that's all about nature and the river.

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Posted by: Chris on Apr 11, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Shame on us for spending 17 million dollars of federal mnoney and our conservation money on a "bridge to nowhere". I would of rather have seen this money go to our national debt. On second thought maybe well need a walking bridge after we all lose our jobs and then our cars because our country is bankrupt. Bad politicians bad bad bad! You should all feel ashamed everytime you cross the bridge!

Posted by: Jarbeau on Mar 31, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Jerry, the pedestrian bridge probably won't save many lives since parks close around 10:00pm and most pedestrians are hit late at night. Another quick note, verbal abuse does not strengthen your point; instead, it exposes your own ignorance.

Posted by: Joe on Mar 31, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I can't wait for the bridge to be completed. As gas prices continue to soar, I am planning to ride my bicycle to my work location in Omaha, NE. I will also use it to walk to the Qwest Center so I don't have to pay for their parking. The fact that it links to the trails in CB & Omaha is a definite plus for the metro area. Thanks to all involved for getting it done.

Posted by: Jeff on Mar 30, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Jon, Call him what you want, but Fahey is completely Independent of everything except corporate money.

Posted by: Jerry on Mar 30, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Most of the commments on here seem to be from closed minded idiots. This bridge is a good thing. It will save lives! People have been killed trying to walk across the I480 bridge. Not everyone has a car, and the busses don't run 24/7 and there are people who can't afford a cab. Get your head out of your butts, and stop trying to make EVERYTHING out to be bad, and a waste of money. It is FEDERAL $ you are not paying for it. Just because you lost your money from letting people park in your yard, or your beer garden to the new stadium, dosn't give you the right to tell others everything. Fahey is trying to do good for the city, and communitys around here, give the man a break you south O people, and get over it, and get a life.

Posted by: RM on Mar 30, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Why are cracks in concrete a surprise in this kind of climate you are going to get two guarantees with concrete #1 it will get hard and #2 it will crack. Maybe Fahey can impose some kind of use tax on the bridge to nowhere to help pay for the ballpark. Sorry it does go somewhere to the beautiful playland park area of Council Bluffs

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 29, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Yes, federal money DOES just fall from the sky! Where else do you think the money for the incentive package is coming from? It's not coming from taxes. It's pure national debt. It's like a credit card that never seems to come due...

Posted by: Jon on Mar 29, 2008 at 09:03 PM
I like it. There are a lot worse uses to pork barrel spending. As I recall, don't rich people get a tax break? Been getting one for the last six/seven years, right? Who are you to complain! Seems that our country was doing great until that happened...who started that..Fahey? No..he is a Democrat, isn't he?

Posted by: M on Mar 29, 2008 at 05:46 PM
I heard the land on the Iowa side is owned by Fahey.

Posted by: CJ on Mar 29, 2008 at 05:01 PM
Ok the federal money just falls from the sky. Were is the money going to come from to maintain it? Oh, thats right, Omaha doesn't maintain it's infrastructure; it just builds new.

Posted by: Skeptical on Mar 29, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Unless there are constant police patrols on foot and/or bicycle... traveling the bridge and pathways on both sides, it probably won't be safe enough for any sane individuals to use. I am sure the homeless and dope fiends will enjoy this easy way to move to and fro between the two cities without getting run over on the interstate though. I honestly see very few people utilizing the bridge... is there a large demand for easy access between these areas? I don't see it. Other than this now looks like it was planned and implemented to be utilized during the new stadium and college world series events downtown. It's all coming together now. They may have beter used the bridge money for things like crime prevention, putting more officers on the streets, the sewer issues, etc... I agree, total waste of time and could end up being more of a problem than it's worth.

Posted by: To Lori on Mar 29, 2008 at 04:30 PM
"Extra" federal money?!?!?! Lemme guess... registered democrat? One of those people that thinks of the "federal government" as a magical font of unlimited funds, coming from nowhere but "rich people" who "don't deserve the money they've earned, and therefore ought to have it confiscated and distributed to lazy people and frivolous projects like a bridge to Iowa..."

Posted by: John on Mar 29, 2008 at 03:45 PM
So they are planning on developing the land on the Iowa side of the bridge. Doesn't anyone remember about this time last year when this area was underwater? Does anyone remember 13 years ago when this area was underwater for months on end. That's why there's a levy there. Anonymous at 11:34-you may not be homeless but I'm sure after you walk the pedestrian bridge you will be well acquainted with many homeless people. Or for a free preview of your new friends take a trip to the downtown library. Bask in their colorful personalities and warm charm.

Posted by: Chris on Mar 29, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Hello, David! The man who knows geography but not politics. We know you. You're the type to tell us we're nothing without Omaha, that we're really a part of Omaha. Then you tell off Tanya by saying this has nothing to do with Bellevue. You say "different taxes." You're pretty sure in your ignorance, because every Bellevue taxpayer contributed as much as each Omaha taxpayer to build this bridge. You just gloat because Sen. Kerrey favored Omaha over everyone else in his constituency. Tonya in Bellevue has more right to complain about this than anyone in Omaha. Go Tonya! Tell it like it is!

Posted by: Dan on Mar 29, 2008 at 01:03 PM
Love the comment on the stagnant cities. Its not easy to just leave a city you have been in for so long. But please Omaha is not that great of a city. There are parts of Omaha that get the money and parts don't some parts of this city are becoming less and less of what Omaha used to be. Federal funding and they build a bridge to ride a bike across the river that that was a great investment. It disturbs me we are throwing money out like we do. You think you will be caring about a bridge when the basics in life are spiraling out of control. Milk 3 something a gallon, gas approaching 4 bucks. Not to mention we are sending 60% of our wheat to other countries while our prices continue to rise. Use federal funding to secure this country so we don't need foreign dependency. Keep spending the money while literally our loans are being scooped up by Chinese and the and the rich middle eastern countries, you question me do some research we are losing our country and who we are....

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 29, 2008 at 11:34 AM
I plan on walking on the bridge. because of that, am i homeless lori?

Posted by: T on Mar 29, 2008 at 11:16 AM
What a waste of money - just think of how many potholes could have been filled and streets widened by the taxpayer money spent on this bridge.

Posted by: Bill on Mar 29, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I would like to see Mayor Fahey walk across the new pedestrian bridge in January. What a rediculous waste of taxpayer money.

Posted by: paul on Mar 29, 2008 at 08:52 AM
what a complete waste of money...

Posted by: Jarbeau on Mar 29, 2008 at 08:39 AM
David, my post will bring the number of positive comments to 3. Thank you for pointing out how the lunacy subsides at the county line. You made my day!

Posted by: doris on Mar 29, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Actually this should work great when they take away parking for the staduim plus bring business to council bluffs hehe

Posted by: To Josh on Mar 29, 2008 at 08:19 AM
Your are so much smarter than the rest of us (rolling eyes) please enlighten us on where "federal money" comes from? Does it grow on tree's perhaps?

Posted by: Tom on Mar 29, 2008 at 06:22 AM
Wonder how long it's going to be before theres a mugging or killing or rape on the bridge, to where their going to have to have police patrol the bridge 24/7? What a waste of money!

Posted by: Oscar on Mar 29, 2008 at 04:19 AM
What is it with this people not wanting omaha to change into a better pace to live at. The mayor is doing a great job on wanting omaha to progress.

Posted by: Lori on Mar 28, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I agree with Josh, this was Bob Kerry's sayonara to the state. It's called "pork barrel" money but I can't understand for the life of me, if there's "extra" money it can't go to something GOOD. A pedestrian walkway for the homeless is NOT a good investment. WHY can't US Senators take the pork barrel money and just give it back to the state to do with what they will? I think Nebraska could use some extra $$ to fix the potholes, INCLUDING those that are all over Federal highways. Like the Interstate. Plus how are we Omahans expected to pay our share when the city wants money to pay the bonds on the Civic, and Rosenblatt, and the sewer improvement, AND the new stadium?

Posted by: David on Mar 28, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Man, When are we going to get some positive posts. Everyone of these is negative except for 2. Also Tonya, this is Omaha and Council Bluffs, it has nothing to do with Bellevue. Different city, county, and taxes.

Posted by: Henry on Mar 28, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Wow for $22 Million you can walk and ride a bike in IOWA! You can't do that every day! Or NOT! What a waste of time and Money!

Posted by: Zack on Mar 28, 2008 at 09:59 PM
I hope people will eventually understand that the money to pay for this bridge was federal money specifically earmarked for this kind of project. If we did not use the money, we would not have received it. Please, if you don't want to see the city that you live in progress, there are plenty of stagnant cities to move to. I, for one, am proud of being from Omaha and seeing the city develop into one of the best in the Midwest.

Posted by: Jake on Mar 28, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Yes, I know its "Federal" money, but we still pay ofr it. What a HUGE waste!

Posted by: Tonya on Mar 28, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Wow, yet ANOTHER amazing idea from the mayor... I wonder how much revenue this one is gonna bring us!

Posted by: chris on Mar 28, 2008 at 06:28 PM
waste of money agian way to go fahey.if were going to keep wasting money lets build something that is going to make the money back and give it to the lower and middle class people who a struggling.these people are the back bone of this city not the rich people.

Posted by: Howie on Mar 28, 2008 at 05:20 PM
This is an AWESOME way to welcome folks into both Omaha & Council Bluffs. I hope you can see if from the new stadium !!

Posted by: don on Mar 28, 2008 at 04:38 PM
So, we are paying for concrete that is already cracking. Doesn't anyone realize that with the freeze/thaw that goes on in thsi part of the country will turn those "hairline" cracks into big cracks? Who the heck is going to have to pay to have that fixed??

Posted by: Rachel on Mar 28, 2008 at 04:31 PM
I can't wait for my taxes to go even higher for a bridge I'll never use!!!!!!!

Posted by: Josh on Mar 28, 2008 at 04:03 PM
Before someone gets on here and blast Mayor Fahey about this, I'd like to remind (inform) people that $19M of the $22M was a federal earmark that Kerry got us. The other $3M came from private funding like the Iowa West foundation, etc. Sorry mayor haters, you've got nothing. I can't wait until the bridge is done and I can go biking on both sides of the river.

Posted by: K on Mar 28, 2008 at 03:50 PM
money well spent...