Omaha Exploration

Omaha doesn’t have an underground rail system, but it does have a subway. The Dodge Street Subway in Dundee—built in 1934 by the Public Works Administration—remains the city’s only pedestrian underpass and was the second tunnel constructed beneath what was once a bustling stretch of the Lincoln Highway.

In the early 20th century, Dodge Street west of downtown was unpaved, so crossing the country road wasn’t nearly as risky as it became once the city began expanding westward. As traffic increased along the highway, Dodge grew busier year after year, a trend that accelerated after the city completed its ambitious project to flatten the steep grade west of downtown in 1920.

Paving and regrading made Dodge less of an obstacle for travelers heading to or from downtown, helping it become the preferred route to the city’s western neighborhoods. Although the Lincoln Highway was eventually rerouted, traffic on Dodge continued to increase. To keep up with demand, the city planned to expand Dodge to five lanes as part of a federal highway project. The plan included two pedestrian subways designed to help children safely cross what had become a major thoroughfare.

To minimize disruptions, the city set an ambitious completion target of July 31, 1934, allowing the street to reopen section by section as crews finished their work. More than 2,000 people worked on the project in four around-the-clock shifts.

While the subway used by children attending Yates School was installed near 33rd Street, the one serving Dundee School was located a mile and a half west at 51st Street. Each entrance used original Dodge Street curbing and featured ramps that sloped downward into the tunnel. Both subways were popular with students and proved effective at helping those who lived south of Dodge reach the other side safely. Even so, they quickly raised safety concerns due to their steep ramps and smooth concrete surfaces which led to frequent scraped knees and bruised faces, especially among those on bicycles or roller skates. Bicycles were eventually banned, and skaters were encouraged to remove their skates before entering.

In the years that followed, the city built additional subways at 22nd and Dodge; 39th and Cuming; and 52nd and Northwest Radial. The subways, however, eventually fell out of favor as they developed reputations for being dark, scary, and unsafe, offering little visibility once someone entered. As a result, the city shifted toward building overpasses, and all but one of the pedestrian subways were filled in.

By 2015, the remaining Dodge Street Subway was showing its age and badly needed repairs. Poor lighting made it an easy target for graffiti and other mischief, and clogged drains led to frequent standing water. Exposed rebar, uncovered during a sidewalk repair, added to its worn and uninviting appearance. Later that year, a fundraising campaign helped address these issues with mortar and concrete repairs, new LED lighting, security cameras, and a skid-proof surface. Additional improvements included new signage and murals depicting five window-like views of Dundee landmarks.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, the Dodge Street Subway remains open today. It continues to serve not only Dundee students but also pedestrians who use it to safely cross Dodgeon their way to eat, shop, grab a drink, or enjoy some exercise.

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Article Featured on Grow Omaha: Local History by Omaha Exploration | Grow Omaha

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