Drafts for Dubuque Street rebuilding get favorable reviews

In order to encourage public conversation of the Iowa City Gateway project, city officials hosted a drop-in center Thursday for residents to view and comment on three proposed alternatives to elevate heavily-traveled Dubuque Street.

Visitors came and went late Thursday afternoon from a meeting room at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St., where three large drafts, rendered by consulting firm HNTB, were displayed, in addition to a study team to answer questions for those curious about the ambitious rebuild.

Melissa Clow, the city's special projects administrator, said the city and the UI are working with the Iowa DOT, US Economic Development Administration and the Federal Highway Administration to achieve the 500-year elevation plus one foot protection standard, proposed to elevate the street up to twelve feet in some spots to mitigate potential flooding.

"When we're coming  in with this much effort, we want to get it right," said Clow, a civil engineer, explaining that the team has come up with back-up plans if cost, constructability or anything else prevents them from ideal elevation. At this point, Clow is unsure which plan will be most expensive, she said.

The drafts, labeled A, B and C, vary from rigid elevation, to more aesthetically pleasing and spacious, to a combination of the two.

Former city council member Naomi Novick arrived to take a peek at the blueprints and commended the team for encouraging the dialogue of the Gateway project with residents.

"I have been to previous meetings. People wanted alternatives," she said, noting that that's exactly what administrators have done, by drawing plans up and inviting the city to comment.

Carolyn Dyer, longtime resident of 1621 Ridge Rd., off of Dubuque Street, said she liked Draft C most, because it solves access alternatives to Mayflower residence hall and widen the busy access point, as well as provide access to other homes along the street.

Dyer was prevented from traveling Dubuque Street for long periods during both the 1993 and 2008 floods.

"It's the lifeline," she said of Dubuque Street.

Clow and her team encourages people to send their comments online, if they were unable to attend the drop-in Thursday. Here is the link.

Draft Alternatives:

Clow said final renderings won't be created until likely spring, when a more definite construction plan comes forth, and more federal funding has been identified. For now, here are the initial options:

• A: "Least amount of impact." Features a retaining wall to maintain all improvements within the existing roadway, impacting zero land properties or historic residences, and most in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act requirements.
• B: "Middle of the road." Features are mores aesthetic, a trail is shown running through City Park, Dubuque Street is further away from the Mayflower building with its own separate access road, and a new bridge on Park Road is proposed to  ease construction traffic.
• C: "Most amount of impact." Dubuque Street is pushed as far away West from residential properties and the bluff as engineers can take it. Land space and parks may be impacted, but great distance is made between the bustling street and homes.

Basically as we work thru the alternatives if cost or constructanilty or anything else prevents us from elating it that much we would go to a lower elevation of protection.