Demolition on north half of Hastings viaduct awaiting railroad approval

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Demolition contractors will work on the southern half of the Hastings 16th St. viaduct first. That portion of the viaduct directly above and to the north of the railroad tracks is waiting approval from Union Pacific.

A Hastings city official said the crews will work their way south to St. Joseph Ave. from the point started Thursday. The contractor will knock out the concrete deck, cut and lift out the metal beams and then remove the piers and foundations to a depth of three feet below ground.

Eventually 16th St. between St. Joseph and Kansas Avenue will be removed and reconstructed as a new street.

The city official said the Union Pacific is still reviewing the plans for demolition above the railroad tracks and demolition of that portion of the viaduct will not start until the railroad approves.

The contractor has until September 1 to finish the work.

The demolition began Thursday morning, one day after a judge declined to issue a court order to stop the demolition.

The city filed a lawsuit March 2 challenging the validity of a referendum to require another special election on the fate of the viaduct. As of late Friday, there was no judge’s ruling on that lawsuit. It was unclear what impact the actual demolition of the viaduct would have on that case.

16th St. between Kansas and St. Joseph Avenues is closed during the demolition.

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