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[A.J. Bertin]

I wasn't intending to make my announcement about my 2023 "city meet" quite so soon, but certain factors emerged that have prompted me to do so.  I've decided that my gathering in 2023 will be held in Omaha, Nebraska!

I will continue the same format I used for my previous gatherings (Providence RI in 2019 and Outer Banks NC in 2022)... a choose-your-own-sightseeing event.  I will select restaurants where the attendees will convene for lunch and dinner, and folks can explore certain aspects of Omaha individually or in small groups between lunch and dinner.  My philosophy with these gatherings basically goes like this: "I'm exploring this city for the first time; come and explore it with me."

I'm not ready to make the date official, but I am strongly aiming for this event to take place on Saturday, April 29.  It will likely not be until sometime in the fall that I will make the date official, but I just wanted to give everyone a heads up as to what I'm planning.

[Alps]

Omaha: still should have a couple non-reflective button copy signs around 480/80. Iowa 680 is now 880. Um... not sure what else. Suggest others chime in here what there is to see within daytrip range!

[Great Lakes Roads]

Some of the major projects happening in the Omaha/Lincoln area:

Lincoln South Beltway Project- Lincoln
Fremont Southeast Project- Fremont
I-29/I-480 Interchange Reconstruction Project (currently underway) & I-29/I-80 Express Lanes (completed)- Council Bluffs

[A.J. Bertin]

Omaha: still should have a couple non-reflective button copy signs around 480/80. Iowa 680 is now 880. Um... not sure what else.

Different folks will find different aspects of Omaha to explore and appreciate... some things being road-related and some not.  Some folks won't have any interest in attending this gathering, and that's fine!  It's not for everyone.   

[TheHighwayMan394]

Omaha is fairly close to me and a place I have explored almost none of, so I am planning on being there whenever it is.

[jpi]

Will keep this in mind, would be a great way to clinch some more Nebraska Counties

[corco]

I really really really want to go to this, especially since I missed Outer Banks

[cl94]

I am very interested in an excuse to see more of this part of the country, but a ton of factors at play here. Let's see what 2023 brings, but I like anything that gives me an excuse to eat at Runza.

[IowaTraveler]

Omaha: still should have a couple non-reflective button copy signs around 480/80. Iowa 680 is now 880. Um... not sure what else. Suggest others chime in here what there is to see within daytrip range!

There's a road at the west end of Omaha with a 3-mile stretch of 1920 brick paving original to the Lincoln Highway.

[vdeane]

There's also Carter Lake, IA, over on the Nebraska side of the river, complete with IA 165.

[paulthemapguy]

My brother lived in Omaha for a couple years, and here are some of the memorable road elements I remember.

The Dodge Street/US6 viaduct from I-680 west is a wacky bi-level freeway unique to the area https://goo.gl/maps/yy94pgUGv2tTKhED7

...And farther east along Dodge Street, the reversible lanes with their overhead signals were remarkable too. Dashed double-yellow lines, anyone?
https://goo.gl/maps/VT17Fr248TrzxVFp8

Lastly, I found the diagonally-oriented overhead truss arms an interesting setup for signal construction.
https://goo.gl/maps/iukEHCeqojzaYDMFA

[okroads]

This was on my radar when you first mentioned this idea to me years ago, and it's even more on my radar now that I live closer to Omaha. Will be keeping an eye on this meet for updates.

[roadwaywiz95]

A few notes/tips from me following my quick visit to the Omaha area today:

The large-scale I-29/480 reconstruction project through Council Bluffs is well underway and involves replacements of ramps and reconstruction of freeway roadways across town. The project should still be in full swing come next April, so there will likely be construction-related things to see, as well as highway/street closures to keep in mind.

Still a few old non-reflective button copy assemblies along I-680 north of Omaha - hopefully they'll still be around come next year. The I-680 Mormon Bridges on the Missouri River are interesting and worth a quick side trip if bridges are your thing.

Speaking of bridges, the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is a unique cable-stayed bridge across the Missouri River near downtown Omaha that's built on a curved alignment and has become a popular destination for folks in the bridge enthusiasts community since it opened in 2008.

Finally, the city of Lincoln is about 45 minutes west of Omaha and is home to what I consider to be among the most impressive State Capitol buildings in the country. There's also the University of Nebraska main campus and the aforementioned South Lincoln Beltway project out that way as well if those appeal to you.

All in all, definitely enough going on out that way to support a meet in '23.

[A.J. Bertin]

A few notes/tips from me following my quick visit to the Omaha area today:

The large-scale I-29/480 reconstruction project through Council Bluffs is well underway and involves replacements of ramps and reconstruction of freeway roadways across town. The project should still be in full swing come next April, so there will likely be construction-related things to see, as well as highway/street closures to keep in mind.

Still a few old non-reflective button copy assemblies along I-680 north of Omaha - hopefully they'll still be around come next year. The I-680 Mormon Bridges on the Missouri River are interesting and worth a quick side trip if bridges are your thing.

Speaking of bridges, the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is a unique cable-stayed bridge across the Missouri River near downtown Omaha that's built on a curved alignment and has become a popular destination for folks in the bridge enthusiasts community since it opened in 2008.

Finally, the city of Lincoln is about 45 minutes west of Omaha and is home to what I consider to be among the most impressive State Capitol buildings in the country. There's also the University of Nebraska main campus and the aforementioned South Lincoln Beltway project out that way as well if those appeal to you.

All in all, definitely enough going on out that way to support a meet in '23.

Thank you for sharing this!   

[SD Mapman]

Speaking of bridges, the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is a unique cable-stayed bridge across the Missouri River near downtown Omaha that's built on a curved alignment and has become a popular destination for folks in the bridge enthusiasts community since it opened in 2008.

I've ran over that; it was quite interesting! On other bridge notes, there's also the public art bridges in Council Bluffs if anyone's interested in those. There's also the (I believe) last toll bridge across the Missouri at Bellevue (costs $1).

I was going to chime in about other things to see (since going back and forth from the Hills to KC on a semi-regular basis for 5 years and having family just west of Omaha has afforded me the opportunity to go pretty much everywhere in the city), but it looks like y'all have covered most everything!

[IowaTraveler]

There's also the (I believe) last toll bridge across the Missouri at Bellevue (costs $1).

There's also the Plattsmouth toll bridge just a little bit further south, with a $1.75 toll.

[CanesFan27]

I understand that this meeting will be somewhere in the middle of America.

[A.J. Bertin]

I understand that this meeting will be somewhere in the middle of America.

Umm... yes?  Omaha would be somewhere in the middle region of the United States.  LOL

[CanesFan27]

I understand that this meeting will be somewhere in the middle of America.

Umm... yes?  Omaha would be somewhere in the middle region of the United States.  LOL

Not a Counting Crows fan, eh?

[jpi]

I am a Counting Crows fan but forget which song the lyrics are from

[A.J. Bertin]

I understand that this meeting will be somewhere in the middle of America.

Umm... yes?  Omaha would be somewhere in the middle region of the United States.  LOL

Not a Counting Crows fan, eh?

I like a couple of their songs but wouldn't say I'm a fan.  I'm not familiar with this song you're quoting, but it's cool that you like them.

[Scott5114]

I'll consider attending, depending on how the finance, general life situation, etc. is by then.

[Rothman]

I'll consider attending, depending on how the finance, general life situation, etc. is by then.

...and Counting Crows.

[Alps]

I am a Counting Crows fan but forget which song the lyrics are from

Omaha!

[Rothman]

I am a Counting Crows fan but forget which song the lyrics are from

Omaha!

Somewhere in middle America...