Cedar Rapids shifts gears from Collins Road overpass

CEDAR RAPIDS - City leaders are stepping back from plans for a massive and expensive overpass at Collins Road NE near Lindale Mall, shifting gears to cheaper and less cumbersome improvements for pedestrians and aesthetics near one of the city's busiest commercial areas.

As recently as October, Cedar Rapids targeted early this year to begin expanding Collins Road to six lanes from Northland Avenue to Twixt Town Road and to raise it 14 feet over a lowered Lindale Drive NE.

But with soaring costs and timelines, the project is off the books. The city is seeking community input to guide a new path forward, which still will include widening Collins.

'We wanted to step back to see if there were other improvements we could do that would cost less, be less intrusive to the traveling public and still provide opportunities for pedestrian improvements and streetscaping improvements,” said city spokeswoman Emily Muhlbach.

The city still is committed to the same goals of reducing congestion, moving traffic efficiently and increasing walkability and bikeability, Muhlbach said.

The city is hosting a meeting to take public feedback on ways to improve Collins between Northland and Twixt Town. The meeting is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Center, 3375 Armar Drive in Marion. It will be an open house where people can come and go.

Muhlbach said the city is particularly looking for input on what aesthetics are preferred, possible stormwater infiltration upgrades and pedestrian connectivity.

The area is a heavily traveled commuter route packed with destinations, including retailers, movies and restaurants. 'Our interest is in how people can access all of that,” Muhlbach said.

At least one business owner is glad to see a new course.

'The thought of a pedestrian underpass is a complete waste of money,” said Bruce Taylor, owner of Collins Road Theater. 'No one would walk that far.”

The overpass had its roots in a 1997 study, which city leaders say no longer meshes with a pedestrian-focused vision.

In recent years, the city was working with consultants Anderson-Bogert Engineers and Surveyors and HR Green to design the now-shelved plan, which included 8-foot-wide paths and more pedestrian-friendly connections between the Lindale, Collins Crossing and Collins Road Square shopping centers.

City staff had presented an overview of the plan to a supportive City Council Infrastructure Committee in October, with some calling it 'critical.” But by Jan. 7, the city had changed course, according to City Engineer Nate Kampman.

The city asked the Iowa Department of Transportation, which is involved in the project, to remove it from the budget and from its February contract lettings.

'The estimated construction costs kept rising, the long-term maintenance costs of the bridges kept rising, the long-term budgeting kept rising,” Kampman said. 'The feeling I had gotten was the schedule had gotten much longer. All of those things combined prompted us to take a step back and look at the project as a whole.”

The project was estimated to cost $12.5 million for construction, including incidentals, and $15.4 million in all when considering design, engineering, property acquisition and other needs, according to city documents and Kampman. Federal and state grants would have covered most costs, with the city covering about $3 million.

The city still plans to widen Collins from east of Northland to Twixt Town, Kampman said. It is part of a long-range plan to widen Collins Road NE from just east of First Avenue E to west of Council Street NE and to the ramps at Center Point Road NE.

Kampman said the city is negotiating with Anderson-Bogert and HR Green to redesign the project with a focus on aesthetics and pedestrian access. A 'very preliminary” cost estimate is $7.5 to $8.5 million.

While the removal of the overpass means Cedar Rapids has to return a $1.5 million grant, federal and state aid remains available, Kampman said. A timetable estimate envisions relocating utilities in 2017 and beginning construction in 2018 or 2019, lasting one or two years.

'I totally agree with (stepping back) because the impact - a project of this magnitude with bridges and Collins Road torn up for three years would be hard on businesses and people,” Scott Olson, a City Council member said in March upon hearing the new direction.

He noted a lengthy intersection project in the area had previously led several businesses to close.