Published August 6, 2026 | Updated August 6, 2026

While it may not have the same stature as prominent landmarks like St. Louis’ Gateway Arch, Omaha’s Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge has become a symbol connecting the two cities on either side of the Missouri River while becoming one of its most visited attractions.

The bridge is among the most successful return to the river projects since Mayor Eugene Leahy championed the idea as far back as the late 1960s. It was the result of a committee that was formed in 1994 to find ways to continue the effort to get people back to the river. Also considered were a tram and a water taxi. The committee ultimately landed on what was later described as an “architecturally significant” pedestrian bridge.

Planning for the bridge started in 1998 with the first round of bids coming in 2004 that were more than twice the budget. Once selected, the winning team had less than six months to complete the design. Selected in 2006, the bridge was designed by Kansas City engineering and architectural firm HNTB and constructed by APAC Kansas Inc., with steel fabrication completed by DeLong’s Inc. of Jefferson City, Missouri.

At approximately 3,000 feet, the S-curved cable-stayed pedestrian bridge is one of the longest in the country and the first to connect two states. Giving the impression that it is floating above the Missouri River, it is anchored by two 203-foot pylons. Meanwhile, 80 steel cables support the deck for the bridge that appears to have a distinctive curve which was designed to symbolize the river sitting more than 50 feet below. The curve, however, is an optical illusion as the individual steel segments are straight but arranged at slightly varying angles.

Opening in 2008, the bridge can be accessed from two different points on the Omaha side. They include 10th Street next to the CHI Health Center where the entrance to the 1,100-foot Baby Bob connector bridge sits. Opening in 2025, the connector sits near the future streetcar stop on Capitol Avenue and saves pedestrians a nearly one mile walk around the railroad tracks. The original entrance sits inside Lewis and Clark Landing near the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center. The bridge’s halfway point features a line representing the border between Nebraska and Iowa, offering an opportunity to stand in both states.

The Council Bluffs entrance is located inside Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park which has seen significant development recently. The park contains a great lawn, amphitheater, pavilion with an observation deck, and the 33-foot-tall sculpture of a giant titled “Looking Up” by artist Tom Friedman. Soon the bridge will connect to the 2,480-foot elevated Treetop Walk leading to the MidAmerican Energy Adventure Tower. Combined, it connects to more than 100 miles of trails.

Named for Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey who secured much of the federal funding for the bridge. The rest came from a mix of public and private sources, including the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, the Iowa West Foundation, and both cities. The color changing lights used for holidays and other events and civic causes were donated by the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation and Gallup.

The underside of the bridge has been home to Omar the Troll since 2019. The 300-pound bronze statue was created by John Lajba. Saying that “every bridge needs a troll”, Deborah Ward, vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Omaha said that they wanted to give visitors another reason to visit the bridge which was already popular among out-of-towners. Since then, Omar has established a social media presence and has inspired a children’s book which documents his journey.

Since it opened, the bridge’s accolades include the National Steel Bridge Alliance’s Prize Bridge Award in the Special Purpose category in 2009 and a Grand Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies, for which it was also one of eight national finalists for the organization’s top Grand Conceptor Award. Featured on a U.S. Postal Service postage stamp in 2023 as part of a collection showcasing four notable bridges, it was also named as one of the world’s most beautiful pedestrian bridges by Travel+Leisure magazine.

Despite initial skepticism, the bridge drew nearly one million visitors in 2022 and carries national significance as a key link in the 3,700-mile cross country Great American Rail-Trail and was named one of 20 iconic bike and pedestrian bridges by the national organization, Rails to Trails Conservancy.

When the conservancy chose to feature the bridge, Ward said: “There were people who said it was a waste of money.” She continued, “Even after the bridge was built, people said it was a bridge to nowhere. What’s fascinating now is people understand that the bridge is the somewhere. People just flock there—it’s a destination.”

The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge helped serve as a catalyst for future riverfront development. In addition to becoming one of Omaha’s top tourist attractions, it helped the city achieve a key goal that was more than six decades in the making: returning to the river from where it was founded.

Omaha Exploration, 2026. All rights reserved. Excerpts and links are welcome with full credit given to Omaha Exploration and a link back to the original content.