This page contains information on current road construction projects that are underway by the City. For all the information on an individual project, simply click on the name of the project. Projects are listed in alphabetical order.
2023 Sanitary Sewer Repairs Project
Project Summary:
This project includes removal and replacement of sanitary sewer manholes and pipes. The street pavement will be removed and replaced. Some grassed areas of the parkway will be impacted. Some locations will have impacts to trees. These impacts will be minimized as possible.
There are ten locations included in this project:
Clark Street, between 823-836 Clark Street
Dearborn Street, between 903 – 908 Dearborn Street
Dearborn Street, between 914-923 Dearborn Street
Highland Avenue at its intersection with Keokuk Court/Plum Street
Muscatine Avenue, near the alley and adjacent to 1122-1126 East College Street
Norwood Circle, between 5 – 10 Norwood Circle
Rundell Street, at the end of the cul-de-sac and near 930 Rundell Street
Second Avenue, between 711 – 712 Second Avenue
Spruce Street, between 1603 – 1610 Spruce Street
Washington Street, west bound lane, adjacent to 828 East Washington Street
The repairs at each location will take approximately two to three weeks. Temporary traffic control will be setup including, but not limited to: reduction of lanes of traffic, alternating traffic, and street closure. There will be times that access to properties will be limited, especially while the excavation is open and new pavement is curing. These time frames will be minimized to the extent possible. There might be times when local access to a particular property will be over a gravel surface until the new pavement is installed.
Tentative Schedule:
Construction Start: Spring 2024
Construction Completion: Fall 2024
Duration at each location: two to three weeks
Project Map:
Contact:
Joe Welter, Senior Engineer
319-356-5144
American Legion Road
About the Project
April 5, 2023 Update:
Weather permitting, work is scheduled to resume on the American Legion Road Improvements Project on Thursday, April 13, 2023.
Remaining work on the project includes:
Reconstruction of the American Legion Road and Taft Avenue intersection.
Sidewalk installation between Arlington Drive and Barrington Road.
Final surface restoration from Barrington Road to Taft Avenue
This work will necessitate the closure of Taft Avenue beginning April 13, 2023. It is anticipated normal traffic will resume by mid-summer; however, that timeframe is subject to change based on weather and additional factors.
Motorists can use a detour route of Highway 6, Scott Boulevard and Court Street.
American Legion Road reopened to traffic, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. The section of American Legion Road between Arlington Drive and Barrington Road was the final portion to be completed.
American Legion Road from Scott Boulevard to Taft Avenue will is the focus of a project by the City. Improvements include intersection treatments and pavement reconstruction, as well as sidewalks, on street bike lanes, and a pedestrian underpass near Hoover Elementary School. The estimated cost for the project is approximately $9,000,000.
The City has hired Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC to perform preliminary and final design services.
Tentative Schedule
Design: November 2018-February 2020
Property Acquisitions: Winter/Spring 2020
Utility Relocations: Winter/Spring 2020
Construction: April 2021 through Summer 2023
Open House
A virtual presentation was held on April 19, 2021, to outline the American Legion Road Improvements Project. For project updates, subscribe to the American Legion Road Improvement Project email list at www.icgov.org/subscribe.
Benton Street is a heavily used corridor within Iowa City, connecting West High, Horn Elementary, residential neighborhoods and apartments to the Riverfront Crossings area, the Downtown istrict, and the University of Iowa. The project corridor extends approximately 6,550 feet along Benton Street from Mormon Trek Boulevard to just east of Benton Drive. The existing pavement is a 33-foot wide Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) roadway with approximately two 13-foot wide travel lanes (one in each direction) and 3-foot painted shoulders.
The pavement on Benton Street requires frequent maintenance and provides low ride quality. The existing pavement is in poor condition, with joint deterioration becoming an increasing issue for much of the corridor. Sidewalk facilities do exist along both sides of Benton Street, including curb ramps at most intersections. However, many of the curb ramps do not meet current ADA requirements.
The Benton Street Rehabilitation Project includes the following
A crack and seal of the existing pavement with a Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) overlay
Painting of on-street bike lanes
ADA sidewalk improvements at intersections
Traffic and pedestrian signal improvements at the Benton and Sunset intersection
Miscellaneous Storm and Sanitary sewer improvements
1,800 LF of 12” water main will replace the existing 6” water main from George Street to Greenwood Drive
Construction Schedule
Project letting through the Iowa DOT occurred on June 21, 2022
Award to Tschiggfrei Excavating, Inc. of Dubuque, IA on July 5, 2022
Estimated Construction Schedule: April – November 2023
Informational Meeting
A virtual public information meeting was hosted on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. You can view a recording of the meeting here. A PowerPoint presentation on the project can be viewed here.
Funding
The MPOJC programmed $1,316,000.00 in STBG funding for the Benton Street Rehabilitation Project in the FY2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Council accepted this funding in February 2021.
Contact
Alin Dumachi, Senior Engineer
City of Iowa City - Engineering Division
319-356-5143 Alin-Dumachi@iowa-city.org
Court Street Reconstruction Project
Recognizing Court Street as a collector street responsible for connecting the east side of Iowa City to the Downtown area, the City of Iowa City is planning to reconstruct Court Street from Muscatine Avenue to First Avenue. Throughout the project lifecycle, City staff and design consultant Foth, will maintain communication with the community via public meetings, project website, and social media updates, as well as mailers and newsletters. With design underway in early 2021, construction is anticipated to begin in 2025.
The Court Street Reconstruction Project includes the following:
Replace aging street and sidewalk pavement
Upgrade sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and water main utilities
Tentative schedule
Design begins: Spring 2021
Construction begins: 2025
Public Information Meetings
Virtual public meetings have been held to outline the planned improvements and answer any questions. Below is a recording of the most recent meeting, held on Feb. 7, 2024.
Click on the below map for a high-resolution version.
FAQs
What are the benefits of the project?
A new concrete roadway will provide a safe travel surface for vehicles. Accessibility for pedestrians will be improved with new sidewalk and ADA compliant pedestrian ramps along both sides of Court Street. There will be upgrades to the water main, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer that will provide more reliable water and sewer services with lower maintenance.
How will I be able to access my home, business, or City High during construction?
There will be an impact, however, the designers will work to reduce the impacts to properties by phasing work. Short durations of driveway and sidewalk closures will be necessary for some sidewalk, utility installations, and reconstruction of the driveway approaches. Meetings will be scheduled with the residents directly accessing Court Street to discuss access impacts.
How long will my home or business be impacted?
The project is in the early stages of design and planning. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2025 and continue through to approximately the end of fall of 2026. Project phasing will be finalized as we get further along in the design process.
What will be the impacts be to me or my property?
Installation of new water and sanitary mains and services to the city right-of-way line will cause short periods of outages as well as require some excavation on your property, which will be restored as part of the project. Temporary construction easements will be necessary to complete work outside of the right of way. During construction, there will also be regular construction noise and dust during the work which will be limited to the hours of 7am to 10pm; the exception is for saw cutting of concrete, the timing of which is critical and may be required at off-hours.
Who will the contractor be?
After the project design is complete, the City will advertise for Contractors to review plans and submit bids for construction. After bids are received, they are reviewed by Public Works staff and will recommend award to council based on bid results. This process is tentatively scheduled for winter 2024-2025.
What might cause delays?
Excavating for a new roadway and utility installations may turn up a few surprises, such as abandoned and unknown utility lines. Also, unknown underground repairs to old infrastructure may need to be addressed if repairs are identified during construction work. Discoveries such as these take time to address. As with any construction project, the weather is a big factor that can cause delays at all phases of construction.
Will the sidewalks be moved further away from the street?
Yes, where feasible. On the north side of Court Street, the sidewalks are going to move approximately 3.5 feet to the north and on the south side the sidewalks will move approximately 2 feet to the south. View a diagram for details.
Project Contact
Ethan Yoder, Civil Engineer
City of Iowa City – Engineering Division
319-356-5145 Ethan-Yoder@iowa-city.org
Dodge Street Reconstruction Project
Dodge Street Construction Project
A major future construction project is set transform Dodge Street from Governor to Burlington.
The project will repave a 1.2 mile stretch of Dodge Street when the two-year project is expected to start in 2023.
The project will take place along North Dodge Street, from North Governor Street to East Burlington Street, and focuses on the the one-way, southbound portion of the road. The project will pass through four Historic or Conservation districts.
The project will center around the replacement of failing pavement and a portion of the public utilities within the corridor, some of which are more than 100 years old.
Four traffic signals throughout the project will be replaced. The storm sewer system is planned to be replaced in order to help reduce potential for flooding. Curb location is not expected to change; however, most or all of it will be replaced for accessibility improvements.
This spring of 2019, the lanes on Dodge Street will be restriped to provide narrower motor vehicle lanes and make room for a buffered on-street southbound bicycle lane. The new bicycle lane will remain after the reconstruction is completed.
Timeline for project
All of the stated times are tentative due to the project still being years away.
Draft functional design report and plans: May 2019
For more information, contact Scott Sovers, Senior Civil Engineer, at scott-sovers@iowa-city.org or at 319-356-5142.
Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project
Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project includes the following:
Reconstruction of Dubuque Street between Iowa Avenue and Washington Street, and the reconstruction of alley between Dubuque Street and Linn Street.
Major public and private utility upgrades, including: new 12-inch water main; new sanitary sewer and storm sewer system; new pedestrian, roadway, and festive lighting.
Replacement of sidewalk and curb ramps throughout entire project limits to provide ADA accessibility for pedestrians.
New streetscape features, such as: planters, limestone blocks, bicycle racks, litter receptacles, removable bollards, and a wayfinding kiosk.
Tentative schedule
Construction Early Start Date: March 11, 2024
Construction Late Start Date: April 8, 2024
Substantial Completion Date: August 23, 2024
Final Completion Date: September 20, 2024
Dubuque Street, between Iowa Avenue and Washington Street, as well as the alley between Dubuque Street and Linn Street will be closed to thru traffic for the duration of the project.
FAQs
What are the benefits?
Dubuque Street Reconstruction Project will replace critical public infrastructure that is in poor condition, such as early 1900s water main and sanitary sewer clay pipe, early 1980s pavement and storm sewer, and outdated street lighting.
How long will my business be impacted?
The project is in the final stages of planning. Construction is expected to begin March/April of 2024 and end September 2024. There is a possibility that site restoration work will carry over into Fall 2024.
How will I be able to access my business during construction?
The City is fully committed to maintaining pedestrian access to businesses during construction of the project. However, there may be short periods of time when sidewalks in front of entrances will need to be replaced. The City will work closely with each and every business and property owner to coordinate when this work can be completed as necessary to minimize the impact as much as reasonably possible.
What will the impacts be to me or my property?
Installation of new water, storm sewer mains, and services to the City right-of-way line will cause short periods of outages. During construction, there will also be regular construction noise and dust during the work, which will be limited to the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m; with the exception of saw cutting of concrete, the timing of which is critical and may be required at off-hours.
Who will the contractor be?
The City received six bids, and the City Council awarded the project to the lowest responsible bidder, Portzen Construction, Inc. of Dubuque, Iowa.
What might cause delays?
Excavating for a new roadway and utility installations may turn up a few surprises, such as abandoned and unknown utility lines. As with any construction project, weather is a factor that can cause delays at all phases of construction.
Stay informed
Weekly business meetings will take place once the project begins. Invitations will be sent by the Iowa City Downtown District. Project updates can be found by subscribing to E-subscriptions here and selecting "Dubuque St. Reconstruction."
Project Contact
Alin Dumachi, Senior Civil Engineer
City of Iowa City – Engineering Division
319-356-5143 Alin-Dumachi@iowa-city.org
Images
Fairchild Street Reconstruction Project
Reconstruction of the existing brick street between Clinton Street and Linn Street. The work will include the removal and salvage of the existing brick street. Then the street will be rebuilt with a new concrete base and re-installation of the brick surface with new concrete curb and gutter while also preserving the historic character of the street.
The replacement of sidewalk along Fairchild Street and new curb ramps at the intersection to provide ADA accessibility for pedestrians.
A new, upgraded eight-inch water main will be installed.
New storm sewer piping and intakes will also be added.
Tentative schedule
Construction Start Date: Fall 2022
Construction End Date: Summer 2023
Throughout the project, different sections of Fairchild Street will be closed to accommodate reconstruction. The City anticipates half of the project construction to be completed in Fall 2022. Any remaining work will be completed in the spring and early summer of 2023. Fairchild Street will be open in drivable conditions between Clinton Street and Linn Street over the winter.
FAQs
What are the benefits?
A restored brick paver roadway will provide a safe travel surface for vehicles. Accessibility for pedestrians will be improved with a new sidewalk along the north and south side of Fairchild Street. Installation of a new water main along the south side of Fairchild Street with new service connections, and new storm sewer piping and intakes will provide more adequate drainage.
How long will my home or business be impacted?
The project is in the final stages of planning. Construction is expected to begin Fall of 2022 and end Summer of 2023. There is a possibility that site restoration work will carry over into Spring 2023. Project phasing will be finalized as we get further along in the design.
How will I be able to access my home or business during construction?
Homes with direct access to Fairchild Street will be impacted, however, designers will work to reduce impacts to properties by phasing work and the installation of temporary gravel access drives. Short durations of driveway closures will be necessary for some sidewalk, utility installations, and reconstruction of the driveway approaches. Meetings will be scheduled with individual residents and businesses directly accessing Fairchild Street to discuss access impacts.
What will the impact be on me or my property?
A few trees in the city right-of-way will need to be removed. Installation of new water, storm sewer mains, and services to the city right-of-way line will cause short periods of outages. Temporary construction easements will be necessary to complete work outside of the right of way. During construction, there will also be regular construction noise and dust during the work which will be limited to the hours of 7 am to 10 pm; the exception is for saw cutting of concrete, the timing of which is critical and may be required at off-hours.
Who will the contractor be?
After the project design is complete, the City will advertise for Contractors to review plans and submit bids for construction. After bids are received, they will be reviewed and Public Works staff will recommend award to Council based on bid results. This process will take place in the summer of 2022.
What might cause delays?
Excavating for a new roadway and utility installations may turn up a few surprises, such as abandoned and unknown utility lines. As with any construction project, the weather is a factor that can cause delays at all phases of construction
Project Contact
Alin Dumachi, Senior Civil Engineer
City of Iowa City – Engineering Division
319-356-5143 Alin-Dumachi@iowa-city.org
Gilbert Street Bridge Replacement Project
Project Overview
The existing Gilbert Street Bridge over Ralston Creek was built in 1972. The 2019 Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the bridge rated it as Structurally Deficient, and replacement was recommended. Longitudinal Cracking and concrete spalls exist in the bridge deck and the superstructure, the north end of the wearing surface at the approach joint is spalling and if filled with asphalt, requiring regular maintenance, and the bridge does not meet current safety standards due to the lack of a barrier rail between vehicular traffic and pedestrians. Minor erosion and bank slump is also identified along the streambank channel.
View the Gilbert St. Bride Replacement project public information meeting from Feb. 28, 2024 below!
ProposeImprovements
Removal and replacement of the existing four-lane continuous concrete bridge with a new four-lane continuous concrete slab bridge designed to meet current local and state guidelines for traffic and pedestrians. The aesthetics will be improved to enhance the neighborhood and view of the creek.
Six-foot sidewalks are included on both sides with a barrier rail and handrail similar to the Rochester Ave/Dodge Street bridges.
Streambank stabilization will occur upstream and downstream of the new bridge using fabric formed concrete revetment and Class E rip rap.
Storm Sewer improvements to increase capacity from the creek/bridge to the Court Street intersection where ponding depths have topped the curbs during heavy rain events.
Water Main improvements immediately north of the bridge to remove the water main from the new bridge footprint in preparation for future improvements.
During construction, parking accommodations and drive-through access to Maiden Lane will be provided for local business and public use.
Construction Schedule
At the scheduled first project letting on March 21, 2023, no bids were received for the construction work originally scheduled for 2023. Due to the nature of the project, construction work will be unable to start in 2023. Therefore, the project was rescheduled for construction in 2024.
A second project letting was held on Sept. 19, 2023. At the conclusion of the bidding process, the City awarded the construction contract to Boomerang Corporation of Anamosa at the Oct. 3, 2023, City Council meeting.
A virtual Public Information Meeting is scheduled Feb. 28, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. There will be a short presentation and project staff available for questions. A recording of the presentation will be posted online, and a downloadable copy of the presentation will be made available following the meeting. The meeting can be accessed here.
Construction: March 2024 to Late-Fall 2024
Construction may begin as early as March 18, 2024, with a late start date of April 1, 2024. Construction is expected to run until late-Fall 2024.
The City is offering an incentive for early completion. Disincentive/Liquidated damages will be assessed for completion occurring after the specified working days and calendar days as noted in the contract documents.
Due to the complexity of the project, the construction work will be broken up into several phases. All vehicle and pedestrian detours will be clearly marked with signage. All changes in vehicle parking will be also clearly marked and communicated with residents and businesses in the project area ahead of construction work commencing. A summary of each phase is provided below. Please be aware the project may be impacted by weather or other unforeseen conflicts that may cause construction delays. The schedule may change to accommodate these delays. Below is an approximate schedule and description of work.
Site Preparation: (late March to mid-April)
This phase plans to establish vehicular and pedestrian detour routes and construct the temporary driveway from the 485 Parking Lot to provide drive-through access to Maiden Lane. The Contractor can also mobilize equipment to the site and begin clearing and grubbing operations in preparation to remove the existing bridge. Some work will begin on Court Street requiring the closer of a section of Court Street. Gilbert Street and the bridge will remain open for use however delays are expected. Therefore, a Gilbert Street detour will be available to avoid delays.
Bridge Removal: (mid-April to late-May)
This phase will include the full closure of Gilbert Street as soon as the drive-through access is complete. The existing bridge will be removed and the storm sewer from the creek to Court Street will be completed. Court Street will be reopened for traffic use.
Bridge Construction: (late-May to late-September)
This phase will include the construction of the new Gilbert Street Bridge through opening of Gilbert Street. During the road closure, some additional public parking will then be provided on Gilbert Street, north of the bridge and south of Court Street for access to local businesses.
Site Restoration: (late-September to late-Fall)
This phase will wrap up the project and any remaining clean up items that do not affect traffic on Gilbert Street.
Detour maps for when the bridge is open (able to cross) and when closed (not able to cross) are available. The bridge is closed during the Bridge Removal and Bridge Construction phases of the project.
Due to the condition of the bridge as noted in the 2019 Bridge Inspection, the City qualified for Federal-aid through the City Bride Program. This program is administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation and provides reimbursement of 80% of eligible costs associated with the bridge replacement up to a limit of $1 Million. The remaining costs will be funded with General Obligation (GO) Bonds.
Contact Information
Tyler Olson, Civil Engineer
319-356-5416
TOlson@iowa-city.org
J Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement
Project Summary
The sanitary sewer on J Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues needs to be replaced due to the age and condition of the sewer pipe. The replacement of the sewer will also include removing and replacing the street pavement on this block. To improve pedestrian access, new sidewalk is proposed to connect the sidewalk on 1st Avenue to the sidewalks on 2nd and 3rd Avenues.
As part of the sewer replacement, individual sewer service lines will be replaced from the sewer main to the property line. If a homeowner on J Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue would like to replace the remaining sewer service line from the property line to the house, they will be responsible to hire a plumbing contractor. Some trees in the right-of-way may need to be removed as part of the sewer and sidewalk construction.
During construction, J Street will be closed to through traffic from 1st to 3rd Avenue. For local traffic, there will be times when vehicle access to driveways is not available, limited, or on temporary surfacing. During these times, residents will need to park on 2nd or 3rd Avenue and walk to their homes. Access to homes on the 2nd Avenue dead-end south of J Street will be maintained throughout construction; however, there may be times when access is limited to one lane and/or temporary surfacing.
Tentative Schedule
Bidding: Fall 2022
Construction Start Date: Spring 2023
Construction End Date: Fall 2023
Upcoming Public Information Meeting
A project information meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, 22 June 2022, in the library of Southeast Junior High School, 2501 Bradford Drive.
Project Contacts
Joe Welter, PE, PMP, Senior Engineer, City of Iowa City Engineering Division
Phone: (319) 356-5144
Email: Joe-Welter@Iowa-City.org
North Gilbert Street Reconstruction Project
Project Summary
The project includes the reconstruction of North Gilbert Street from just south of the intersection with Kimball Road and to and including the intersection with Brown Street. This section of street will be replaced with new concrete pavement and curb. Existing brick street sections will be restored back to the original bricks at the end of construction. The project also includes the undergrounding of aerial utilities, new sanitary sewer, new storm sewer extensions, minor watermain adjustments, new sidewalks and retaining walls, new concrete driveway approaches, and some regrading work. The final steps of the project will include site restoration including grass seeding and general construction cleanup.
Tentative Schedule
Relocation and Undergrounding of Private Utilities: Spring 2024 – Fall 2024
Major Street Construction Start Date: Spring 2025
Major Street Construction End Date: Fall 2025
Grass and Plantings Final Restoration and Minor Construction: Fall 2025 – Spring 2026
Before major street reconstruction activities commence, private utilities such as electric and telephone/fiber will be relocated and undergrounded. The objective is to eliminate overhead lines and prepare for the street reconstruction work. There may be temporary closing or restricted lanes during this activity.
Starting in Spring 2025, different sections of North Gilbert Street and the intersection with Brown Street will be closed and/or have restricted lane traffic to accommodate reconstruction activity. The City anticipates major street construction will be completed in Fall 2025 with final restoration work (grass seeding, mulching, patching, and other final cleanup activities, etc.) wrapping up in Fall 2025 and may extend into Spring 2026. North Gilbert Street will be closed at times to facilitate paving and utility crossing. All properties will be notified in advance of timeframe potential limited access.
Upcoming Public Information Meetings
It is in the City’s interest to effectively communicate with property residents and the general public regarding the project proposed construction, the use of the street travel, and the needs of the community. Therefore, several meetings are planned to provide the community with the opportunity to learn about the planned improvements and provide comments.
First Public Information Meeting was held in November 2022 (Topic: Concept Discussion and Comments)
Traffic Calming Program: A new webpage is currently under construction. A link to this new webpage will be posted when available. In the meantime, feel free to contact Sarah Walz by phone at 319-356-5239 or by email at swalz@iowa-city.org for any questions.
Third Public Information Meeting anticipated for Spring 2024 before utility undergrounding works begins. (Topic: Utility Undergrounding Plan Discussion and Public Comments)
Fourth Public Information Meeting anticipated for Spring 2025 before construction begins. (Topic: Construction Plan Discussion and Public Comments)
Project Maps
Project Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the benefits?
Private aerial utilities will be relocated underground providing a more aesthetic look and improving reliability service by providing better protection from severe weather
The new concrete roadway will provide a safer travel surface for vehicles. A new street curb and gutter will help convey stormwater to new storm water intakes in the street which will help reduce stormwater eroding and overwhelming the traffic paths.
Both sides of the street is anticipated to be constructed with 5-foot wide sidewalks that will be provide ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant pedestrian pathways. The new sidewalks will provide better connectivity to other sidewalks along the adjoining streets.
Parts of the intersection of North Gilbert Street and Brown Street will be restored with reinstalling the brick pavers with a new concrete curb and gutter over a new concrete base while preserving the historic character of Brown Street.
New sanitary sewer mains and manholes will be installed, replacing the existing aging system below the street
How long will my home (or business) be impacted?
At this time, it is difficult to provide specific time frames for each home effected by utility undergrounding and street construction as the project is currently in the early stages of planning. However, it is anticipated private utility relocation and undergrounding activities will likely take place in the Spring of 2023 and may extend through Fall 2024. Major street reconstruction activities are planned to occur in the Spring of 2025 and last till the Fall of 2025. During major construction, the street will periodically need to be closed or have reduced access depending on the activity being done. When access or service will be impacted, the resident will be notified ahead and will be provided with more specific information on the duration of the impact.
How will I be able to access my home (or business) during construction?
Due to the nature of the proposed construction activity, homes with direct access to North Gilbert Street will be impacted, however, the project engineers will work to reduce impacts to properties by staging work were possible and provide installation of temporary gravel access drives. Short durations of driveway closures will be necessary for some sidewalk, utility installations, and reconstruction of the driveway approaches. A meeting will be scheduled with individual residents and businesses directly accessing North Gilbert Street to discuss access requirements and impacts.
What will the impact be on me or my property?
Currently, specific detailed impacts on properties are difficult to confirm as the project is in the early design phase. However, some common or typical impacts include:
During construction, which is normally limited to the hours of 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, there will be typical construction noise and dust. However, due to the critical timing for concrete saw cutting, there may be times concrete saw cutting may be required to be done during off-hours.
Construction is intended to be limited to the City Right-of-Way as much as possible. However, there may be locations along the project where additional space is needed for the proper and safe construction of the proposed improvements. In these areas a temporary construction easement may be required.
There may be existing plantings, trees, bushes, retaining walls, and other things in the City Right-of-Way that may need to be removed to make room for the installation of the improvements. Any removals will be communicated with the property owner ahead of time.
Installation of new sanitary and storm sewer is not expected to directly impact service to property owners, however, should during the construction an issue is discovered (for example: a water service line was accidently damaged during excavation) there may be some service impact. Any non-emergency or anticipated impacts in service will be communicated with the property owner prior to the service being impacted.
Who will the contractor be?
After the project design is complete, the City will advertise for Contractors to review the plans and submit bids for construction. After bids are received, the bids will be reviewed, and City Public Works staff will recommend award to the City Council based on the bid results. This process is anticipated for the Winter of 2024/2025
What might cause delays?
Excavating for a new roadway and utility installations may turn up a few surprises such as abandoned and unknown utility lines. As with any construction project, the weather is a factor that can cause delays at all phases of construction.
Rochester Avenue serves as an important arterial within the City of Iowa City. The street pavement along Rochester Avenue from N 1st Avenue to the bridge over Ralston Creek provides low ride quality, requires frequent maintenance, and has reached the end of its useful life. The City of Iowa City is planning to reconstruct Rochester Avenue from Ralston Creek to N 1st Avenue, including the Rochester Avenue and N 1st Avenue intersection to create a more user-friendly roadway corridor. The project will also implement aspects from the City’s complete streets policy. Throughout the project lifecycle, City staff and design consultant Snyder & Associates will maintain communication with the community via the project website and social media updates.
The Rochester Avenue Reconstruction Project includes the following
Pavement reconstruction from Ralston Creek to N 1st Avenue. The intersection of N 1st Avenue and Rochester Avenue is included with the pavement reconstruction.
Improvements to the sidewalk
ADA curb ramps
Buffered bike lanes
Storm sewer
Sanitary sewer manholes
Tentative Schedule
Construction begins: August 2022
Construction ends: 2024 construction season
February 2024 update
Weather permitting, work on the Rochester Avenue Reconstruction project is anticipated to resume in mid-March with the fourth - and final - phase of the project.
Phase 4 includes water main work, roadway reconstruction, sidewalk improvements, and new traffic signalization at the First Avenue and Rochester Avenue intersection. The First Avenue/Rochester Avenue intersection will be constructed one half at a time to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on First Avenue. The west half of the intersection will be constructed first, as will temporary paved turn lanes from First Avenue to Rochester Avenue to the east.
The proposed detour route will include First Avenue, Court Street, Seventh Avenue, and Rochester Avenue. Rochester Avenue between Seventh Avenue and Rita Lyn Court will remain open to local and school traffic only. Construction is anticipated to continue until fall 2024.
December 2023 update
Weather permitting, Rochester Avenue will reopen between Rita Lyn Court and First Avenue beginning Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Minor construction activities will continue in the area, but are not planned to impact traffic in the area. All detours associated with the project will cease to be in effect during this pause in construction activity.
Rochester Avenue will remain open to traffic until the beginning of Phase 4 of the Rochester Avenue Reconstruction Project in spring 2024. Phase 4 will entail work on the intersection of Rochester Avenue and First Avenue.
As of Dec. 12, the 11-Rochester transit route will no longer detour and will return to its normal route until the beginning of Phase 4.
October 2023 update
Work on Stage 3 of the Rochester Avenue Reconstruction project is expected to begin Wednesday, Oct.11, 2023.
Stage 3 includes work on Rochester Avenue from Rita Lyn Court up to - but not including - the First Avenue intersection. The intersection will remain open during Stage 3. Stage 3 is tentatively scheduled to be completed by late November, at which time all of Rochester Avenue will reopen for the winter months.
With the completion of Stage 2, Rochester Avenue will reopen to Rita Lyn Court. The intersection of Rochester Avenue and Ashwood Drive will remain closed until sidewalks can be installed.
Work on Stage 4 - the Rochester Avenue/First Avenue intersection - is scheduled to begin in Spring 2024.
August 2023 update
With paving expected to begin on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, Stage 2 of the Rochester Avenue Reconstruction project is nearly complete.
Stage 2 includes work on Rochester Avenue between Rochester Court and Rita Lyn Court. Once paving on Rochester Avenue is complete, sidewalks and driveways between Rochester Court and Rita Lyn Court will be installed. This work is anticipated to be complete in mid-September, at which time the Stage 2 project area will reopen to traffic.
Until Stage 2 is complete, an increase in construction traffic in and around the project site should be expected, traffic delays are possible, and the current detour using First Avenue, Court Street, and Seventh Avenue will remain in place.
Upon completion of Stage 2, Stage 3 will begin. Stage 3 includes Rochester Avenue from Rita Lyn Court up to - but not including - the First Avenue intersection. The intersection will remain open during Stage 3. Stage 3 is tentatively scheduled to be complete by mid-November, at which time all of Rochester Avenue will reopen for the winter months.
Work on Stage 4 - the Rochester Avenue/First Avenue intersection - is scheduled to begin in Spring 2024.
May 2023 update
Weather permitting, the Rochester Avenue Reconstruction project will enter Stage 2 on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Stage 2 shifts the scope of the project east to include reconstruction of Rochester Avenue between Rochester Court and Rita Lyn Court. Rochester Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Rochester Court to Rita Lyn Court. The Ashwood Drive and Windsor Drive intersections will be closed to traffic during Stage 2 of construction. Access to residential properties will be maintained with the exception of driveway access for short periods of time. Impacted property owners will be notified in advance of these closures.
With the completion of Stage 1, Rochester Avenue will reopen to traffic west from the intersection with 7th Avenue. The posted detour for Stage 2 will include N 1st Avenue, Court Street, and 7th Avenue.
Weather permitting, Stage 2 is scheduled to finish at the end of August.
March 2023 update
Weather permitting, construction crews will be on-site performing various activities beginning with underground pipe work between Rochester Court and Windsor Drive. Traffic control will remain the same as last fall with the detour route using Ashwood Drive, Glendale Road/East Jefferson Street, and Parsons Avenue. The Montrose Avenue and Rochester Avenue intersection will be closed once again upon resuming construction.
The contractor is tentatively scheduled to complete reconstruction up to or near the intersection of Rochester Avenue and N First Avenue in 2023; however, that schedule is subject to change. The project is scheduled to be completed within the 2024 construction season. Updates will be provided throughout the duration of the project.
As the project progresses there will be changes to the traffic control and detour routes. Please continue to check the project website, City of Iowa City social media, and City press releases for updates.
The suggested detour has been announced for the Rochester Avenue Reconstruction Project. The project is set to close Rochester from Ralston Creek to Windsor Drive beginning the week of Aug. 15, 2022.
The detour bypasses Rochester by using Parsons Avenue, Glendale Road, and Ashwood Drive.
Motorists are to take note of this construction work and allow extra travel time or seek an alternate route during this time period.
Bus route detours
When the project starts, Rochester Avenue will be closed between Montrose Avenue and Windsor Drive. The Rochester Avenue bus route will use Jefferson Street to Glendale Road to Ashwood Drive for inbound and outbound travel to get clear of the work zone. There will be temporary bus stops at three intersections along Jefferson, Glendale, and Ashwood for customers to use as alternate stops.
FAQs
What are the benefits of the project?
A new concrete roadway will provide a safe travel surface for vehicles. Accessibility for pedestrians will be improved with segments of new sidewalks and ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps. There will be upgrades to the water main, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer structures that will provide more reliable water and sewer services with lower maintenance.
How will I be able to access my home, business, or Regina High School during construction?
There will be an impact, however, the designers will work to reduce the impacts to properties by phasing work. Short durations of driveway and sidewalk closures will be necessary for some sidewalk, utility installations, and reconstruction of the driveway approaches. Temporary access to residences may include side street parking, parking on temporary surfaces (example: gravel), or other planned parking areas.
How long will my home or business be impacted?
The project is finishing the design phase. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2022 and continue through to approximately December of 2023. Project phasing will be finalized in the coming months. The design will attempt to reduce property impacts as much as possible, however, some impacts are inevitable. Installation of public utilities (i.e. sanitary sewer structures and water main) may cause brief property access limitations and service interruptions. Service interruptions are usually brief, generally lasting less than half of a day. During construction when there are paving operations underway, access impacts to property could last up to two weeks. The timeline of these impacts also varies dependent on weather and if the Contractor can perform work with the given weather conditions.
What will be the impacts be on me or my property?
Installation of new water main, sanitary sewer structures, and sidewalks in the city right-of-way line will cause short periods of outages and may require some excavation on your property, which will be restored as part of the project. Tree removal is also included in the project. Tree removals were reduced as much as possible, but some removals are necessary to install the public improvements. Temporary construction easements will be necessary to complete work outside of the right of way. During construction, there will also be regular construction noise and dust during the work which will be limited to the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the exception is for saw cutting of concrete, the timing of which is critical and may be required at off-hours.
Who will the contractor be?
Boomerang Corp. of Anamosa, Iowa.
What might cause delays?
Excavating for a new roadway and utility installations may turn up a few surprises, such as abandoned and unknown utility lines. Also, unknown underground repairs to old infrastructure may need to be addressed if repairs are identified during construction work. Discoveries such as these take time to address. As with any construction project, the weather is a big factor that can cause delays at all phases of construction.
Questions? Contact the City Engineer overseeing this project: Justin Harland, Senior Engineer, at 319-356-5154.
Rohret South Sanitary Sewer Trunk Project
Project Summary
The project starts at the intersection of Abbey Lane and Burry Street, continues west across Mormon Trek Boulevard to Rushmore Drive, then southwest of Rushmore Drive through an existing sanitary sewer easement and across Highway 218. The project generally includes sanitary sewer pipes, sanitary sewer manholes, sanitary sewer service reconnection, water main valve replacement, storm sewer pipe replacement, street pavement, driveway replacement, sidewalk replacement, and seeding.
Approximately 2,500 linear feet of new 30-inch diameter sanitary sewer pipe will be extended to the west side of Highway 218 to serve future development. The construction of sewer piping across Highway 218 will be installed via trenchless construction techniques to avoid traffic impacts. On Abbey Lane, the sanitary sewer pipe will be installed near the middle of the roadway. Abbey Lane will be reconstructed at a width of 28 feet to be consistent with city policies for local/residential streets.
Tentative Schedule
Design: 2022
Bidding: Winter 2023
Construction Start: May 2023
Construction Completion: Fall 2023 (sewers, streets, and parkways); Spring 2024 (seeding west of McKinley Place) - Completion Dates Subject To Change
Past Public Information Meetings
Held on May 11, 2022 (virtual meeting) and July 28, 2022 (hybrid meeting)
Held Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022.
A summary of past public information meetings can be found here.
Upcoming Public Information Meetings
6:30 p.m., Friday, May 12, 2023, 2229 Abbey Lane
5 p.m., Tuesday, May 16, 2023, circle drive south of the intersection of McKinley Place and Rushmore Drive
Project maps
Project Contact
Contact Joe Welter, Senior Engineer, for more information about the project. Contact Joe at joe-welter@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5144.
Dodge Street Construction Project