Road projects to cramp Corridor at C Avenue, I-380 and Washington Street

CEDAR RAPIDS — Major road construction is scheduled to begin up and down the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids corridor on Monday.

Motorists that use C Avenue between Blairs Ferry and Collins Road by Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Interstate 380 northbound near Swisher, and Washington Street in downtown Iowa City will be caught in the crosshairs.

'(This will) improve the safety for both through traffic and traffic to and from the Rockwell entrances, increase pedestrian safety, improve the service life of the pavement, and provide improvements that aesthetically fit with the Rockwell campus,' Gary Petersen, the Cedar Rapids capital improvements project manager, said of the C Avenue project.

The city projects are intended to improve the function, aesthetics, and condition of the streets, while the interstate project is to replace two worn bridge decks.

C Avenue in Cedar Rapids

Where: C Avenue to close between Blairs Ferry Road NE and Collins Road.

When: Monday until early October.

What's happening: Upgrades to four travel lanes, left and right turn lanes at the three Rockwell entrances, left turn lanes at Collins and Blairs Ferry, right turn lanes at Blairs Ferry Road, and a 42 foot landscaped median. The pedestrian traffic signal will be replaced with a fully actuated traffic signal, which is activated by traffic. Trees and improved lighting will be installed along the street.

How much: Horsfield Construction, Inc., of Epworth, will complete the $2.24 million, 80 percent reimbursed through federal transportation money.

What does it mean for drivers: A marked detour will divert to Council Street NE, and Rockwell Drive and Northland Avenue are options.

'In conjunction with the city project we are going to be reconstructing parking lots on the east side and south Side of our headquarters building, so only those lots will be closed during construction,' Rockwell spokeswoman Pamela Tvrdy-Cleary said, noting the company is looking forward to the finished project.

I-380

Where: Bridge decks over Highway 965/railroad and the Iowa River on I-380 northbound.

3 construction projects begin April 11

Map by John McGlothlen / The Gazette

When: Preliminary work begins on Monday and major work begins on April 18. The project should be complete in August.

What's happening: Two bridge decks, built in the early 1970s, are being replaced. The Iowa DOT plans to replace the southbound bridge decks in 2017.

How much: Cramer of Grimes is being paid $519,107 for the Iowa River bridge and $903,479 for the 965/railroad bridge.

What does it mean for drivers: Overnight work begins on Monday, weather pending, to strengthen shoulders and will require lane width reductions. More significant traffic impacts will begin on April 18 when northbound travel lanes are narrowed to two 10-foot wide lanes and shifted to one side. The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph in the work zone.

In mid-May, the traffic lanes will be split for work to occur in the middle, and it will likely require further speed reductions. In mid-July, the two lanes will shift together on the left side of the bridge. Traffic will remain open to two lanes of traffic during daytime hours but may be reduced to a single lane at night.

The Iowa DOT is urging motorists to sign up at 511ia.org for traffic alerts for this stretch of I-380.

'The decks are worn and beyond the point where just routine patching will preserve them so are being replaced,' said Cathy Cutler, Iowa Department of Transportation district six planner.

Washington Street in Iowa City

Where: Revamping Washington Street from Clinton to Dubuque.

When: Beginning Monday through late July.

What's happening: Upgrades to the aesthetics of Washington Street, including more trees. Improvements are also slated for the intersections, pavement, utilities, and a water main on Clinton Street. When the Clinton to Dubuque segment is complete, a second phases is slated to continue upgrades between Dubuque and Linn. That is expected to be complete in September.

How much: Portzen Construction, Inc. of Dubuque has the contract to complete the full Washington Street Streetscape Project — from Clinton Street to Linn Street — for $4.4 million.

What does it mean for drivers: One-way southbound Dubuque Street to eastbound Washington Street will be open to traffic, and Clinton Street will see temporary lane closures. Pedestrians will continue to have access to Washington Street during the project. Certain traffic points will be reopened for summer events including the Old Capitol Criterium on May 1, Iowa Arts Fest on June 2-5, and the Iowa City Jazz Festival June 30 to July 6.