Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is a 3000 ft (914.4 m) footbridge
across the Missouri River
between Council Bluffs, Iowa
and Omaha, Nebraska
. It opened on 28 September 2008.
Interest in a landmark bridge across the Missouri River arose after Omaha and Council Bluffs began replacing their older crossings with girder bridge
s which do not have towers (most notably the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge
). The bridge is named after former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey
, who secured $18 million of federal funding for the bridge in 2000.
The bridge was redesigned in 2004 after the lowest bid for the project was $44 million. In May 2006, a final cable-stayed bridge
design by Kansas City
engineering and architectural firm HNTB
was selected for the bridge. The $22 million bid included two 200 feet (61 m) towers and a clearance of 52 feet (15.8 m) above the river. Groundbreaking for construction of the bridge occurred on October 26, 2006.
The bridge is north of the I-480
girder bridge and connects the Port of Omaha
's Miller Landing in Omaha to One Renaissance Center in the former Dodge Park Playland
in Council Bluffs, making it the first ever pedestrian bridge to connect two states.
The lights on the bridge were donated by Gallup
, which has their corporate headquarters and Gallup University located on the Missouri River adjacent the Omaha landing of the bridge. The bridge lights include programmable controls that can display multiple colors in the large lights at the top of the towers and alter brightness and timing of the lights that run the entire length of the bridge. The lights were officially unveiled in a ceremony on September 13, 2008. The bridge lights were turned on while the Phil Collins
song "In The Air Tonight" was played over a PA system. The event was accompanied by fireworks.
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
across the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
between Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
and Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. It opened on 28 September 2008.
Interest in a landmark bridge across the Missouri River arose after Omaha and Council Bluffs began replacing their older crossings with girder bridge
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
s which do not have towers (most notably the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge
Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge
The Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge was a truss bridge that was the first road bridge to cross the Missouri River connecting Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa...
). The bridge is named after former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey
Bob Kerrey
Joseph Robert "Bob" Kerrey was the 35th Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987 and a U.S. Senator from Nebraska . Having served in the Vietnam War, earning the Medal of Honor for his actions, he moved into politics. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992...
, who secured $18 million of federal funding for the bridge in 2000.
The bridge was redesigned in 2004 after the lowest bid for the project was $44 million. In May 2006, a final cable-stayed bridge
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
design by Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
engineering and architectural firm HNTB
HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an architecture and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri that has designed many bridges, roadways, airports and professional sports stadiums across the United States and around the world.The firm started in 1914 as Harrington, Howard & Ash...
was selected for the bridge. The $22 million bid included two 200 feet (61 m) towers and a clearance of 52 feet (15.8 m) above the river. Groundbreaking for construction of the bridge occurred on October 26, 2006.
The bridge is north of the I-480
Interstate 480 (Iowa-Nebraska)
Interstate 480 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, a mere long, that connects Interstate 80 in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, with Interstate 29 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The portion of I-480 in Nebraska has been named the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, named in honor of the former President, who was a...
girder bridge and connects the Port of Omaha
Port of Omaha
The Port of Omaha is a port of entry in the United States with facilities on the west side of the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska. The official address is located at 5229 Boeing Court in East Omaha. The Port was formally sanctioned by the U.S. Congress in 1888.- About :Founded immediately on the...
's Miller Landing in Omaha to One Renaissance Center in the former Dodge Park Playland
Dodge Park Playland
Dodge Park Playland was an amusement park formerly located at Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA. It was in operation from 1948 to 1970.- History :The Playland Speedway was originally a dog racing track formed in 1941, but was shut down in 1943. The dog-racing track was operated by Meyer Lansky...
in Council Bluffs, making it the first ever pedestrian bridge to connect two states.
The lights on the bridge were donated by Gallup
The Gallup Organization
The Gallup Organization, is primarily a research-based performance-management consulting company. Some of Gallup's key practice areas are - Employee Engagement, Customer Engagement and Well-Being. Gallup has over 40 offices in 27 countries. World headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Operational...
, which has their corporate headquarters and Gallup University located on the Missouri River adjacent the Omaha landing of the bridge. The bridge lights include programmable controls that can display multiple colors in the large lights at the top of the towers and alter brightness and timing of the lights that run the entire length of the bridge. The lights were officially unveiled in a ceremony on September 13, 2008. The bridge lights were turned on while the Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
song "In The Air Tonight" was played over a PA system. The event was accompanied by fireworks.
External links
- Omahariverfront.com article on final design
- Construction Cam
- Pedestrian Bridge Concept Pictures at official Omaha city website
- Video walking tour of bridge