Lane closures coming in prep work for two-way streets in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - Roads crews soon will begin work in preparation for converting portions of Second and Third avenues downtown to two-way streets, the city announced Thursday.

The segments set to be converted are Second Avenue between Sixth Street W. and First Street E., and Third Avenue between Sixth Street W. and Third Street E.

While the switch from one-way to two-way streets likely will not happen until fall, work to resurface the roads will begin soon. Workers will remove old pavement markings on the streets to allow for new two-way striping later on. Drivers are expected to experience lane closures while crews are working.

In addition to making downtown more accessible, the conversions will make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists and increase the visibility of businesses, the city said in a statement.

Safety features like 'bulb-outs,” or painted pedestrian areas to reduce the walking distance in intersections, will be included on Second and Third avenues. Protected bike lanes will be added to Third.

Other changes on Second and Third include shutting off traffic signals and installing stop signs at Third Street S.W. and L Street S.W. to slow down traffic. The City Council also approved an agreement last month with Union Pacific Railroad to begin preliminary work to adapt Fourth Street rail track signals for two-way intersections at Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth.

The Second and Third conversions to two-way streets are part of a larger project to convert one-way streets in downtown. Areas like Fourth Avenue S.E. from Fifth Street S.E. to 19th Street S.E. and Eighth Street S.E. from Fourth Avenue S.E. to 12th Avenue S.E. are both scheduled to be converted to two-way streets this summer.

Conversions already have taken place in the medical district and near the Ground Transportation Center.

The city's conversion project was created in part because of its development agreement with CRST Inc. The company is building an 11-story tower on First Street S.E. and wanted to improve accessibility to the area.