Judge denies temporary injunction request, Hastings viaduct demolition can continue as planned

HASTINGS, NE — The long-debated demolition of the 16th Street viaduct in Hastings can go on as scheduled.

On Wednesday, Adams County District Court Judge Terri Harder denied a pair of attempts by people representing the group Hastings Citizens with a Voice to delay the demolition.

Harder denied the group’s request for a special election on the matter. In her ruling, she said the group has an “adequate remedy” in the law, referring to the group’s counterclaim already filed against the city, so she won’t force a special election.

Harder also denied the temporary injunction, which would have stalled the viaduct’s destruction until the completion of an existing lawsuit. Nebraska law requires someone to show “a likelihood of success” in their claim in order to warrant a temporary injunction. Harder says it’s not likely the group will be successful in its counterclaim, so she denied the request.

The two requests are in response to a lawsuit filed by the City of Hastings seeking to invalidate a petition to put the issue on the ballot. Hastings Citizens with a Voice has filed a counterclaim that is awaiting a determination.

The group has attempted three times to save the viaduct via a petition.

The city has already awarded a contract for the demolition. With these legal hurdles cleared, it can proceed with removing the bridge.