Bob Kerrey Memorial Bridge To No Where

Before he left office, former US Senator Bob Kerrey (D, Nebraska) secured a $19 million earmark for the purpose of constructing a footbridge over the Missouri River from Omaha to Council Bluffs, Iowa.

At the time (2000), this project seemed a little absurd. No one could remember wanting or needing a footbridge to Iowa from Omaha.

In subsequent years, as the construction moved forward, the national attitude toward earmarks became even more unfavorable. Now, just as we approach an election where both sides are saying earmarks are out of control, the Bob Kerrey Memorial Bridge To No Where has been completed!

This video was shot on Sep 29, 2008. The same day the House of Representatives failed to pass a financial "rescue" bill and the stock market tanked. As the country continues its slide into economic morass, the Bob Kerrey Memorial Bridge To No Where will stand as a permanent and stark reminder of a time when we all lost our minds and thought we could have everything we wanted, and even some things we didn't, with out regard to the cost.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Bob
• Kerrey
• Memorial
• Bridge
• To
• No
• Where
• Omaha
• footbridge
• earmark
• council
• bluffs
• wasteful
• spending

[digitalarteest]

I have been on this bridge a half-dozen or so times, and one thing I could not avoid noticing was that everybody on the bridge was happy. No, more than happy, I would say everybody was exuberant. We need more bridges like this. THE HAPPINESS BRIDGE!

[kashmarek]

This looks like a great bridge, other communities would love to have a bridge like this accessing bike/walking trails on both sides of a river.. $18m is a drop in the bucket coming from federal funds. The TRUE bridge to nowhere is in Alaska, connecting literally 2 hyper-small communities together that never wanted the bridge in the first place, billions people, billions, and some whine about $18m, get real, this bridge looks like it will get a lot of use.

[harshbarj]

Those calling this a 'Bridge To No Where' are showing there ignorance. This bridge connects Omaha's emerging eastern trail system with Iowa's existing trails system. It also empties out on to playland park that will see construction of a mix use development similar to NoDo over the next year or two. I personally use this bridge often to simply enjoy the trail system or to head to Broadway to do some shopping. Hardly a 'Bridge To No Where'.

[umahuma4]

what, it goes to a park, big fucking deal. i agree the omaha side is more entertaining, but so its an open field, so what

[PedAdvocate]

Before the bridge was built, the only way for a pedestrian or bicyclist to cross the Missouri River at Omaha was on the shoulder of Interstate 80, which is neither safe nor legal. I am glad someone could see beyond the windshield of their automobile and understand the importance of providing a connection for the non-motorized modes.

[y2knoproblem]

I walked this bridge for the first time last night and the first thing that I thought was this is Omaha's bridge to no where. Apparently I'm not the only one that got this impression, a gentleman walking the bridge made the same observation.

[pajova55]

poor quality video and even poorer quality snarky commentary.