Demolition begins on Fremont’s iconic Lenihan Skywalk

FREMONT, Neb. (WOWT) - A piece of Fremont history is coming down.

Demolition is underway on the Lenihan Skywalk over Broad Street.

“It’s the end of an era,” said Fremont Public Schools Superintendent Mark Shepard.

Like many in Fremont, Shepard speaks fondly about the skywalk. It has connected buildings between 8th and 10th Streets for over four decades.

“When I first moved to Fremont in 1994, that was a daily occurrence, students walking across Broad Street every day,” Shepard said.

The buildings used to serve as Fremont’s middle and high schools. However, Metropolitan Community College bought the middle school in the early 2000s, and the skywalk hasn’t been used since.

“I didn’t go to school here but for people who did, I know they have a lot of memories about moving between buildings between classes.”

Broad Street was once Highway 77 until the state built a bypass around the city. Crews completed that work last year, and the city and schools started work to take the skywalk down.

The barricades going up mark the beginning of the end.

The skywalk is known to many as Gerbil Run. The curved glass top and yellow strips of metal between the glass panes looks like something you might find in a pet store.

“I think it’s kind of sad,” said resident Felisha Croy. “It’s like a staple of Fremont. When you think of Fremont, you think of that. It’s cool. It’s history.”

During demolition, traffic on Broad Street will be reduced to one lane in both directions. Trucks will be rerouted to Business Park Drive. Around April 15, the area will be closed to all traffic for about three days.

“It’s something that we’ve wanted to have come down for quite a while, ever since it’s no longer used,” Shepard said.

Demolition work is slated to wrap up in early May.

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