NORFOLK, Neb. — Construction can move forward on a pair of projects intended to enhance Norfolk’s downtown.

The Norfolk City Council voted 8-0 on Monday to award contracts to install a downtown gateway sign and festoon lighting. The two contracts are for different projects but are similar in their intent and funding source.

The gateway sign will arch over the top of Norfolk Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets immediately east of NP Mart. A design company developed three designs, the city gathered input from a community survey and the company made a fourth design based on the feedback. The city expects the sign to be fully installed by the end of July.

An illustration of the back of the Norfolk Downtown Gateway Sign.
An illustration of the back of the Norfolk Downtown Gateway Sign.  

Huff Construction won the contract and will be working with Love Signs as a subcontractor. The companies found a way to cut $80,300 from their initial bid, resulting in a contract for $535,189. Nearly $500,000 of funding is coming from a Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) grant. The remaining cost will be paid by the Vehicle Parking District.

The lighting project is known as Illuminate the River Point District. It includes the installation of approximately 2,000 linear feet of festoon lighting from 3rd St. and Norfolk Ave. to 3rd St. and Braasch Ave. to 2nd St. and Braasch Ave. to connect with the Geary Pedestrian Bridge. Festoon lighting is characterized by small bulbs and a style that drapes the lights above an area. It will also include catenary, or lantern-style, lighting for four different intersections along Norfolk Avenue.

City staff said they hope the festoon lighting provides a connection between the Johnson Park riverfront area and downtown. They also hope it will provide aesthetic and practical improvements to lighting in downtown.

Model Electric won the bid for $577,873. The project is paid for with nearly $537,000 from a CCCFF grant and nearly $41,000 from the Vehicle Parking District.

A map of the route of Norfolk's downtown festoon lighting.
A map of the route of Norfolk's downtown festoon lighting.  

Economic Development Director Candice Alder said the city was able to use money it spend on the Johnson Park Improvement Project as the matching dollars to obtain the CCFFF grant money. She said her team pitched the projects to the grant distributor because improvements to lighting and way finding were among the city and downtown district’s strategic planning goals.