Cedar Rapids City Council delays hearing on Mount Vernon Road project

CEDAR RAPIDS — A public hearing for a planned $7.31 million project to improve a portion of busy Mount Vernon Road in southeast Cedar Rapids was pulled from Tuesday’s city council meeting agenda, but will be back at a future meeting, a city official said.

Brenna Fall, city public works director, told The Gazette that she requested the item be pulled because not all the right of way agreements associated with the project are complete. It's anticipated the project will return for council consideration once the agreements are done.

The move also postpones putting the project out for bids.

The two-year job would include paving Mount Vernon Road SE from 20th Street to 26th Street SE. The estimated cost is $7.31 million, and would be funded through the city’s Paving for Progress program.

The work would concrete patching, curb and gutter replacement, and an asphalt overlay. All sidewalks will be replaced and new sidewalk will be extended along the west side of 25th Street from Mount Vernon Road to Grant Wood Elementary School.

Additionally, the project includes storm sewer improvements and water main replacement.

A new combined emergency vehicle and pedestrian hybrid beacon will be added at 25th Street.

Construction from 20th Street to Knollwood Drive would occur in 2025 and construction from Knollwood Drive to 26th Street would happen in 2026.

These improvements are a continuation of the improvements made from 14th Street to 20th Street in 2023 and 2024.

Contract awarded for 42nd Street work

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the city council approved proceeding with replacement of a stretch of 42nd Street NE.

The council approved awarding a contract for the work to E & F Paving Co., LLC, of Cedar Rapids, which bid $4,336,112.55. The projects estimated cost was $5.1 million.

The work will be done on 42nd Street, from Edgewood Road to Pine View Drive. It will include full pavement reconstruction of the road, new sidewalk and ADA-compliant curb ramps, as well as replacing water main, storm sewer and sanitary sewer improvements. The contractor also will build retaining walls and install two flashing beacon pedestrian crossings.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2025 and last 165 days, or until late 2025 or early 2026.

There were nine bids for the project. Those bids were opened Jan. 8 and reviewed by city staff. Rathje Construction Co., of Marion, was a close second with a bid of $4,427,944.51. Only two of the bids were more than the estimate.

The project will be funded through the city’s Paving for Progress program.