Schemmer Joins Community in Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Last weekend, Schemmer was proud to participate in the grand opening of the long-awaited Platte River Pedestrian Bridge in Bellevue, Nebraska. This exciting project connects Sarpy and Cass counties, offering a stunning new pathway for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the natural beauty of the Platte River and the surrounding area.
Project Manager Matt Shimerdla, Bridge Engineer Matt Rasmussen, and Bridge Manager Darin Brown spearheaded the design process, working closely with the Papio-Missouri River NRD. The bridge piers were constructed in conjunction with the US 75 highway bridge back in 2014, laying the groundwork for this impressive pedestrian crossing.
Left: Hawkins Construction, Center: Eric Williams, Papio-Missouri NRD, Right: Matt Shimerdla and Darin Brown of Schemmer
“This is a great celebration,” said Eric Williams, Natural Resources Planner at the Papio-Missouri River NRD. “We've been working on this project for seven years, but the preparation work on the substructure was done at least a decade before that.”
The bridge shows the collaboration between public agencies, advocacy groups, and community members. “There's been great involvement from public agencies on both sides of the river, as well as really strong support from advocacy groups, people who love to walk and run and ride,” said Williams. “They know how important it is to have Sarpy County connected to Cass County and Bellevue connected to Plattsmouth.”
Seeing this project come to fruition is incredibly rewarding for the Schemmer team. “That's the exciting thing about being on projects like this is for years they only exist in the computer or on the plan sheets like this,” said Darin Brown, Bridge Manager at Schemmer. “But here, when it comes to life, it becomes a part of everybody's everyday life. And it's very exciting to see people enjoying it.”
The bridge spans 1,530 feet across the Platte River. It features unique design elements, including skewed entry spans, scenic overlooks, and aesthetically pleasing railings, all expertly crafted by Schemmer’s bridge team. The project, including the bridge, provides over half a mile of new trail, creating a vibrant and accessible space for the community.
“Schemmer did a great job of coordinating the design aspects of the bridge and the structure with the environmental considerations, with the potential users in the future, both the recreation and active transportation users,” said Williams. “And they were a really wonderful partner to help carry this project through all of the complexity of the federal aid process and get it from design all the way to the ribbon cutting today.”
Schemmer is honored to have contributed to this remarkable project and looks forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the community for years to come.
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Schemmer is a full-service architecture, engineering, and construction field services consultant providing responsible solutions for complex design and construction-related challenges.
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