Downtown CR Skywalks Open After Flood

By Josh Hinkle, Anchor/Reporter

Employees, owners and volunteers for downtown businesses and organizations return to at the parking structure adjacent to the US Cellular Center via the Skywalk on Saturday, June 14, 2008 in dowtown Cedar Rapids. The groups had about 20 minutes to recover essential items from any floors above the floodwater. The City of Cedar Rapids, Chamber of Commerce and the Cedar Rapids Downtown District coordinated the effort which was cut short before all the businesses could get in due to concerns about air quality. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

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By Josh Hinkle

Story Created: Nov 17, 2008 at 6:12 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 17, 2008 at 6:23 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Downtown Cedar Rapids' skywalk system is now open for the first time since the flood. More than three miles of indoor walkways allow the 13,000 workers downtown to stay inside during the cold months.

Since the skywalks were shut down for so long, they needed a few repairs and major cleaning - totaling nearly $11,000.

Ann Marie Simmons. a downtown worker, says, "We usually walk outside when the weather's nice, but when it gets cold, we like to walk in the skywalks."

The skywalk bridge leading to the 3rd Ave Parkade is open, but the city is conducting air quality tests that should be back Tuesday.

The underground tunnel to the Ground Transportation Center Parkade is temporarily closed because of flood water contamination and the fact that it no longer has power. There's no word on when the city plans to fix and re-open that tunnel.

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