Iowa City opens 200 block of Washington Street to two-way traffic

IOWA CITY - Washington Street in downtown Iowa City is open to two-lane traffic for the first time in months.

City officials made the announcement Friday that the 200 block of the street is now back to two lanes of traffic, wrapping up much of the major work on the Washington Streetscape project. The project was needed to update aging underground utilities and improve the look of the sidewalks.

Pedestrians and cars can now move freely around the area. This is a much different scene than it was for much of the year with road closed signs, broken up concrete and wooden walkways cluttering Washington Street.

While the street may finally be open that doesn't mean an end for the project that has lasted more than half the year and at times made it challenging to get to businesses with winding, constantly changing walkways. Work took longer than originally anticipated because of the congestion of the underground space with water mains and utilities, Scott Sovers, a senior civil engineer with the city, previously told The Gazette.

The project was triggered after a large water main break in 2013 and city staff realized the old underground infrastructure needed to be replaced. The work is part of the city's larger downtown streetscape plan, which guides street and utility upgrades in the area over the next 10 to 15 years.

The city previously estimated the cost of the Washington Streetscape Project to be around $5 million even with the delays. Portzen Cosntruction of Dubuque was hired for the project.

The Streetscape work began in mid-April with the first phase, involving work in the 100 block, wrapping up in September. Phase two, the same work on the 200 block of Washington, then began.

Because of anticipated inclement weather, some street and sidewalk paving, including traffic signal work at Washington and Linn streets, has been postponed until the spring. Installation of permanent lighting along the 200 block and work on the Dubuque and Washington streets traffic signal are planned to continue through the winter months, according to city officials.

More information can be found on the city's Streetscape page at icgov.org.

l Comments: (319) 339-3172; maddy.arnold@thegazette.com