Project of the Week: 3rd Street SW from 3rd Avenue to 1st Avenue

When Paving for Progress identified 3^rd Street SW as a road in critical need of repair, the City launched a multi-stage effort to fix it.

With the latest segment, from 3^rd Avenue to 1^st Avenue, that upgrade is nearly complete - giving riders a smooth ride from the I-380 exit ramp at 5^th Avenue SW, all the way to 1^st Avenue SW.

This week, workers have moved to the second stage of the project, which should finish up by September. Work will include pavement removal; installing storm sewer structures and subdrain; and installing curb and gutter, driveways, and sidewalks. The crew will also build a new storm inlet at the north end of the project, before ultimately placing a new asphalt overlay on 3rd Street SW.

Improving safety and accessibility

The project will benefit more than just vehicle traffic. It improves safety and accessibility for pedestrians, thanks to upgraded street lighting and sidewalks.

"This project supports the growth of the Kingston Yard neighborhood," says Project Engineer Katie Greenstein.

Lesnik noted that the road work is adjacent to the new Kingston Yard Parking Ramp, which was completed earlier this year.

"We are fortunate to have the same construction inspection team from the Kingston Yard project for the 3rd Street project," she says. "They have provided a seamless line of communication with the construction management working on the Kingston Yard and hotel projects. We had some staging issues related to those projects, and our construction team was instrumental in providing the solutions."

Open for business

While improving 3^rd Street SW was a critical need for nearby businesses and organizations, the road work offered some temporary challenges for them. To minimize this, City staff have worked closely with them to ensure their access is maintained throughout the process.

Communication has been key for this project, during both the design phase and construction itself. This communication has included door hangers with contact and construction information, as well as in-person and phone discussions that City staff and the contractor have had with the business owners in the area.

"The nearby businesses have recognized the value of this work, and have welcomed the improvements," Lesnik says.

Greenstein noted that all access has been maintained for area businesses, and that the project has special signage to help ensure the public remains able to navigate to them.

Lesnik added that the route to Downtown Dogs Social Club was especially impacted, but that there is a short detour in place, which takes their customers one block to the east before returning to 1st Avenue, which is the access to their lot.

Crews are also keeping the intersections and pedestrian crossings open for east-west traffic. Access to the Linn County Sheriff's Office has also been maintained for the majority of the project's duration, by working on their driveway half at a time.

Investing in the Future

The project is a direct result of Paving for Progress, a program that exists solely for the maintenance, repair, construction and reconstruction of public streets. The program is funded by a one percent local option sales tax, meaning the repairs are funded by both Cedar Rapids residents and visitors who shop and dine in our community.

The program has resulted in 133 miles of repaired or replaced roadways since 2014.

Residents often ask how streets are selected for repair each year. The City uses a 10-year management plan using pavement condition data collected on every street in Cedar Rapids. The data is collected by a vehicle that drives the surface of the roads and collects data on texture, pavement distress, and roughness.

Fresh data is collected every two years, and the plan is updated accordingly. Key Goals include:

• Fully reconstruct some of the roads in worst condition
• Perform less costly preventative maintenance to extend the life of additional roads, investing in those roads before they reach the end of their service life
• Make improvements to residential neighborhoods that have long been neglected
  
  

"The City is very grateful for residents' support of the Paving for Progress program," says Doug Wilson, Engineering Manager for Paving for Progress. "Without the local option sales tax being approved by voters twice, the program wouldn't exist, and streets like 3^rd Street would continue to deteriorate.

"Instead, we have been able to repair so many streets over the past 12 years," he says. "Residents tell us that they are very appreciative of the City working on their street, and of the efforts by the City staff to communicate with the neighborhood throughout the work process."

You can learn more about the 3rd Street SW from 3rd Avenue to 1st Avenue project here. Learn more about Paving for Progress here.

Project of the Week puts a spotlight on work happening all over the City every day. Each week, we will take a closer look at projects that are investing in our community's roads, trails, Flood Control System, and more. See previous installments here:

August 6: CIPP Sewer Repairs
July 30: 6^th Avenue SW from 1^st Street to 2^nd Street
July 24: 4^th Street Trail Extension
July 17: 12^th Street SE/Coe Road
July 10: 34^th Street SE
July 3: Roundhouse
June 25: Mount Vernon Road
June 18: Grande Avenue SE
June 11: O Avenue NW Time Check Elevation Project
June 5: Nassau Street
May 28: Cedar Lake
May 21: Tree of Five Seasons Park
May 14: 20th Street NW
May 7: 18th Avenue SW
April 30: Alliant Energy LightLine™
April 23: 42nd Street
April 16: The 3rd Avenue Bridge