Property negotiations to begin for First Avenue railroad work in Iowa City

IOWA CITY – The city Tuesday night took another step toward building an overpass for trains at First Avenue.

The City Council voted 6-1 to give staff the OK to start negotiations to acquire the property needed for the project at the First Avenue-Iowa Interstate Railroad crossing in southeast Iowa City. Terry Dickens cast the “no” vote.

The city is looking mostly for easements to work on surrounding land during construction rather than needing to buy land. The city hopes to start construction in spring 2012 and be finished two years later.

Trains at the intersection frequently block traffic for significant periods of time and the $7.1 million project enjoys wide support among residents.

Bud Sueppel said he falls in that group but chastised the council for the project's plan to elevate the tracks and lower the road. He said that would put his shop, Sueppel Flowers, 1501 Mall Dr., eight feet above street level.

“Our business is done with our show window,” he said.

Public Works Director Rick Fosse said the city looked at different configurations for the project, but railroads require more vertical clearance than a road and it would be very expensive to run the train underneath.

Mayor Matt Hayek said Tuesday's vote was only the start of the construction process and there will be opportunities for public input, in particular from effected businesses.