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Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge
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The bridge connects Council Bluffs, Iowa and
Omaha, Nebraska. Originally, the bridge was called
the Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge. For
us Omaha-Council Bluffs bicyclists, it was
just known as the "new bridge".
In September 2008, Council Bluffs and Omaha City
Councils approved the new name - Bob Kerrey Pedestrian
Bridge. Former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey was instrumental
in securing funding to the new bridge. (See
the fact
sheet)
See my helmet-cam
video of my first ride over the bridge. It was
a crowded crossing. There will be more video
another day.
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Bridge Construction
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Bridge construction began in late 2006. I
did not attend the groundbreaking. There wasn't
much to see until the towers started to grow.
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July
29, 2007 Council Bluffs
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July
29, 2007 Council Bluffs
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January
13, 2008 Council Bluffs
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March
6, 2008 Council Bluffs
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March
16, 2008 Council Bluffs
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March
19, 2008 Council Bluffs
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May
5, 2008 Council Bluffs
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May
5, 2008 Council Bluffs
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May
31, 2008 Council Bluffs
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June
22, 2008 Council Bluffs
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June
22, 2008 Council Bluffs
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July
23, 2008 Council Bluffs
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September
19, 2008 Council Bluffs
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September
19, 2008 Omaha
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September
19, 2008 Omaha
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Lighting Gala - Saturday, September 14. 2008
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After over 2 days of rain, the sun came out the
afternoon of the lighting ceremony. With a
blues concert on Lewis & Clark Landing, it was
festive evening. I had not seen the bridge
from the Omaha side of the river before this evening.
It is an impressive sight. Took the
opportunity to take a couple of photos before the
celebration.
On schedule, the lights were turned on at 9pm.
A ten minute fireworks show capped the evening.
Here's some of the photos I took that evening.
Still learning about the camera (over 4 years).
This was the second time I shot time
exposures (need more practice).
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Opening Festival
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It was a beautiful day for the bridge opening - Sunny, clear, light breeze and
in the 70s. The opening festival started at
noon. Starting at 9am, wrist bands were distributed
as a lottery to see who gets to be the first person
to cross the bridge. The crowd started arriving
just after 11am. I took photos of the bridge
and festival preparations. (I was helping at the
T.H.O.R. - TrailsHaveOurRespect.org - information
booth).
The festival featured information booths (riverfront
development, walking clubs, hiking clubs, and cycling
groups), family activities, food vendors, and a
climbing wall. A MAT bus was parked at Playland
Park. Several of us took the advantage to
see the new bike racks. The Central High School
band (Omaha) and Thomas Jefferson High Schools band
(Council Bluffs) entertained the crowd.
The ribbon cutting ceremony got underway at 1pm.
Omaha Mayor Mike Fayeh and Council Bluffs
Mayor Tom Hanafan spoke. The wrist band number was
drawn. The lucky boy and his family were escorted
to the bridge. There, ceremonial ribbon was
cut. With the Mayors, civil leaders, and the
press crossed the bridge.
Once the hoopla was over, the general public
started crossing the bridge. After the end
of the festival, I grabbed my bike and rode over
the new bridge.
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