December 15, 2006
Lots of trail news!

Riverfront Trail Temporary Closing:
A portion of the South Riverfront Trail will be closed starting in December to allow for the construction of Omaha’s signature pedestrian bridge across the Missouri (see groundbreaking article on this site.) The section will be closed from the National Park Service building north of Lewis and Clark Landing, north to Miller’s Landing near the River City Star. A detour for this stretch can be accessed by using the trail on the west side of Riverfront Drive’s trail, ½ block west of the riverfront. Follow this trail north to Abbott Drive and turn right to connect to the Miller Landing path. The South Riverfront Trail will reopen in late 2008 after completion of the bridge and will provide riders the opportunity to traverse the Missouri at a height of 50 ft and connect to the Iowa Riverfront Trail. The latter trail on the Council Bluffs side of the river will remain unaffected at this time.

Omaha’s Newest East to West Trail!
One of the Omaha trail system’s most obvious shortcomings is the lack of east-west trails, and is most notably absent in the midtown area. The City of Omaha’s Parks, Recreation, and Public Property Department is ready to change that with a new connection from the Keystone Trail to the Field Club Trail. The first phase of the project is scheduled for 2007 and will extend from the Keystone Trail near Karen Addition Park (approximately 66th north of L Street) to 42nd and F Streets. There are two future segments scheduled for 2008 and 2009 which will complete the connection, however funding has not yet been obtained for these two phases.

The ultimate destination for this new section will extend further east from the Field Club Trail along Vinton Street to 20th Street, along Spring Lake Road and tie into the Riverfront Trail near Missouri Avenue.

Standing Bear Trail Update:
Standing Bear Trail has been removed and is being reconstructed in concrete during early 2007. The project was originally scheduled to be complete in 2006 but bids for the proposed bridge to cross part of the lake channel came in over the estimated costs. The City of Omaha is now considering eliminating the bridge and using the path along 144th Street.

Zorinsky Lake Trail:
The City of Omaha recently resurfaced Zorinsky’s asphalt trail on the west side of 168th Street. The eastern half will be completed in the spring of 2007. Trail closures will be temporary and of a short duration during the resurfacing.