Principal Riverwalk

[the1wags]

That's pretty cool. As a construction nerd, I find the process of building things like this very interesting. Our ped bridge linking Omaha and Council Bluffs opened last week, and people have been enjoying it a lot. I'm sure it will be the same when yours does too.

[SharpHawkeye]

I don't want to "hijack" this thread, but it is related to the project:

The Iowa Leadership Council, a pro-Republican 527 group is running attack ads here in eastern Iowa against Democrat state senators and representatives who voted for funding for the Principal Riverwalk project. In their ads, they focus on the Principal Riverwalk, D-Line Shuttle (they call it just "trolleys") and a downtown beautification project as "pork-barrel spending".

I can't find any of the ads I've seen on YouTube, or I would post them here. Also, I can't type fast enough to give you a full transcript but the ads always end with a variation of the line "Tax increases for you...flowerpots for Des Moines".

[QuadCityImages]

One of them is for current Davenport city council member and state Senate candidate Shawn Hamerlinck, who I could write 10+ pages entailing his conflicting statements. I'll spare you guys that. If he wins the election (probably doubtful this particular year with that "Rep" after his name on the ballot), we're rid of him from the city council, yet he'll be causing trouble at the state level instead. Either way we both win and lose, I suppose.

[hawk61401]

The ILC advertises themselves as not being affiliated with any candidate or political party. In the link below they attack McKinley Bailey of District 9 for his support of the Riverwalk. The ILC doesn't have any suggestions about how Des Moines and Iowa should rebuild, attract and retain new and young residents and jobs. Instead, let's attack those who want to do positive things for Des Moines and Iowa.

http://www.truthaboutmckinleybailey.com/default.aspx

[Better Life dude]

Almost every day I drive across the Grand Ave bridge downtown and look to my right - wondering if today's the day when construction on the Center Street pedestrian bridge will start up again. Does anyone know what's up with this bridge? The steel construction supports are so ugly, they'll make the eventual bridge seem that much cooler.

[Better Life dude]

I found some information perhaps not yet posted in it's entirety: It was mentioned in an earlier post that there is Federal stimulus money for the Riverwalk trail from Vine Street to Court Ave. That funding is $873,235. In addition, the state DOT has also decided to award $1,653,000 of the federal stimulus to the Riverwalk trail from Walnut to Grand on the west bank.

That would mean what's left for the Riverwalk trail to be funded/completed would be 1)from the new MLK Jr. Parkway bridge to Vine Street; 2)Court Ave to Walnut Street; 3) from north of the new Hansen Triangle park to the new Center Street pedestrian bridge. So roughly about half of the remaining distance of the Riverwalk trail could be completed this year. Slowly but surely, the trail will all get connected!

As a general note: including the above $2.5 million for the Riverwalk trail, over $12 million of federal stimulus will be spent throughout Iowa on trails.
Details on "Transportation Enhancement" (aka Trails) to be found at this Iowa DOT link: http://www.iowadot.gov/recovery/enhancements.htm

[GoVerticalDSM]

Does anyone know the date when they will restart work on the bridge spanning the river by WFA?

[DMRyan]

I'm surprised the workers haven't started back on this bridge yet, but it must still have something to do with the difficulties in fabricating the steel for the arch.

Sounds like the west side of the riverwalk will be blazing with construction later this year or next year with the ped bridge, river kiosk and now a significant majority of the trails. Slowly (very slowly) chipping away at what's needed to get the riverwalk project completed.

[DMRyan]

The KCCI news at 10 tonight reports that the steel for the ped bridge should be arriving in late April. The entire project now has a price tag of over $75 million and is set for a 2011 completion date provided that continued federal funding comes through. According to their report, nearly the entire west side of the riverwalk will be under construction this year, including the Court Avenue Plaza/Kiosk area and most of the trails and promenade south of Grand Avenue.
The project has been 90% funded so far.

Here's a few new renderings of what's being labeled as the West Bank from the Principal Riverwalk site.

[Better Life dude]

That is good news.

[DMRyan]

Here's the video link that shows some new graphics of the riverwalk for those interested:

http://www.kcci.com/video/19074556/index.html

[Better Life dude]

The pedestrian bridge walkways look different: Both lanes off to the south side instead of split right under the arch with space between them. Oh well - just get it done at this point!

[Ingersoll1978]

The pedestrian bridge walkways look different: Both lanes off to the south side instead of split right under the arch with space between them. Oh well - just get it done at this point!

I think it's much cooler in the newest rendering. I hope that is what is built!

[dsmLA]

This project is really going to fill out in the next two years. I can not wait!!!

[DMRyan]

A couple of items from the upcoming City of DSM council agenda about the western portion of the riverwalk; construction is not supposed to start on the Walnut to Grand Avenue section until Fall 2009 and the portion of the riverwalk abutting the YMCA site will be deferred to a later date depending on the redevelopment of the site. With this project, what's another few months after years of delay?

This project will include construction on the river side of the levee on both blocks and the plaza on the land side between Walnut Street and Locust Street in front of the Old Library. The project construction includes the multi-purpose trail, floodwall, irrigation and lighting, plaza and promenade pavers. Construction of this project will begin in the fall of 2009 and will be completed within one year. Construction of the plaza and promenade adjacent to the YMCA will be deferred, pending the proposed redevelopment of that property.

[dogbo]

I've been wondering about that. If that redevelopment is done rightof the Y site is done correctly, there should be a restaurant/bar/wtih large outdoor patio that will face the river. This will need to coordinate with the river walk somehow.

[DMRyan]

No steel arriving on site yet, but the work crews finally showed up today to start moving cranes around and perhaps bringing in more construction equipment. Hopefully, it won't be much longer to see some type of activity on the ped bridge.

[Better Life dude]

Finally. Yeh

[Mulder.DSM]

Does any one know who is in charge of the marketing window display for the Principal Riverwalk in the skywalk area of the Equitable Building?

The Principal Riverwalk sign fell down last week and is laying on it's side in the display window and needs to get hung back up.

I have no idea who is responsible for those windows to tell them about.

[spacebetween]

Does any one know who is in charge of the marketing window display for the Principal Riverwalk in the skywalk area of the Equitable Building?

The Principal Riverwalk sign fell down last week and is laying on it's side in the display window and needs to get hung back up.

I have no idea who is responsible for those windows to tell them about.

My guess would be the DCA or the management co for Equitable. Reach out to Amy Baker at the DCA, she will know. Let me know if you need her email...

[IowaNomad]

No steel arriving on site yet, but the work crews finally showed up today to start moving cranes around and perhaps bringing in more construction equipment. Hopefully, it won't be much longer to see some type of activity on the ped bridge.

Read today the steel beams are scheduled to arrive in Des Moines by May 1.

[Des Moineser]

No real progress, however, it appears there is finally some steel on the site.

[DMRyan]

Thanks for the photos Des Moineser. Those large green pieces of steel are actually the floating buoys to hold the cranes that will hoist the bridge. Some of them have already been placed in the water along the shore.

[Better Life dude]

Those "temporary" steel tower supports look like a monument to futility.

[Mastermind]

Have they taken the month of May off on the pedestrian bridge? This thing is taking forever...

[hawk61401]

The following quote from the DMR of September 2008 ..

An Indiana company constructing the bridge is behind, so instead of a mid-November grand opening, completion has been pushed back to early next spring.

From KCII of March 2009

The KCCI news at 10 tonight reports that the steel for the ped bridge should be arriving in late April

Early next spring has passed, summer is 3 weeks away. The Indiana company should appreciate the lucrative contract they were given. Are you still behind? We're getting impatient for the postcard-producing, piece of engineering excellence.

Maybe in 2009 ....

[GoVerticalDSM]

What's up with these morons? Sounds like we're getting taken to the cleaners.

[Better Life dude]

I have no inside information, just my opinion: This has to be a money issue somewhere in the pipeline. This bridge was designed/engineered by Arup - the worldwide company that engineered the Bejing Olympic stadium and Olympic aquatic center. Can't be a problem with the design. Even if there was a manufacturing problem, that would have been fixed about 12 months ago. I think in this case the local media is covering up the real story or they are being misled. It's ok if the Principal Riverwalk is behind in funding - we get that in this current economy. A little more transparency and forthrightness by the responsible parties would serve everyone well.

I've been thinking this for many months now - glad I'm venting. If enough of us tout the lack-of-money conspiracy theory, then maybe the truth would come out.

[mirage1]

I agree with BLD on this one.....it is a "follow the money" issue.

A smart bet might be a "major" sponsor of the riverwalk with recent large layoffs and now associated with wanting TARP money does not want all of the bad press associated with what some might consider "fluff" spending. Some of those budgets, while not cut, might have been delayed quietly. My opinion only.

[hawk61401]

Ok, now I am going into panic mode. This thing which currently looks like a gigantic erector set might look like this for months or worse? This would be the last thing that Des Moines needs. Agree with BLd, something smells and it ain't the Des Moines river. Smells like a money issue.

As Bld says, if the local media is covering up the story or being misled, that doesn't say much about our local watchdogs. It's only to make the situation worse. Surely, others have doubts and questions besides members of this forum.