Cedar Rapids ready to move forward with amphitheater

A project that has gone untouched for months could now see some progress.

Crews finished phase one of the amphitheater project along First  Street SW in Cedar Rapids. Now, city engineers said they're ready to work on the rest of the project.

The City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on plans for phase two of construction during its meeting Tuesday afternoon.

“We completed phase one, which is the levee portion or foundation of the amphitheater, last fall. So, this next phase will be the things that will make it look like an amphitheater. You'll see the sloping hill down to the seat walls, you'll see the stage structure, a lot of the other amenities, the path, the landscaping  will all come in under phase two,” said City Parks & Recreation Department Amphitheater Project Coordinator Gail Loskill.

If the council passes it, engineers said crews could begin construction as early as August. Eventually the project will provide a venue for outdoor concerts and shows, while also providing flood protection with the levee portion of the project.

The city wanted to have the second phase under construction much earlier, but higher-than-expected bids delayed the project in January.

"We had to go back to the drawing board. We visited with contractors, visited with local contractors, suppliers, so we weren't ready to bring this back to council until we knew we could bring back something they could consider and presumably approve,” said City Engineering Manager Robert Davis.

Davis said the city needs the "yes" vote from the council in order to move forward. He also said the council could award a construction contract by the end of June.

The project is slated for completion by August 2013.