CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

2023 Alley Reconstruction Project

The 2023 Alley Reconstruction Project consists of two City alleys being reconstructed into permeable alleys, and two City alleys being constructed with a new concrete surface. This project is funded by the Storm Water Bonds and Street Construction Fund. The following alleys are scheduled for construction during 2023 during late spring through the summer:

Between From To Alley Type

Walnut St. & Iowa St. W. 12th St. W. 13th St. Permeable Washington St. & Clay St. W. 13th St. W. 14th St. Permeable Franklin St. & Clay St. W. 13th St. W. 14th St. Concrete

Main St. & State St. E. 2nd St. E. 3rd St. Concrete

There are two goals for this project. The first is to reconstruct alley’s that have required maintenance repeatedly. The second goal is to help the City’s storm water management system with the installation of the permeable alleys. This project will affect those who have driveway access off the alley’s listed above while being reconstructed, and will require homeowners to temporarily park along their respective streets.

The permeable alleys consist of a perforated pipe under a clean rock storage chamber. On top of the rock storage chamber the surface of the alley will consist of two four foot concrete sections, with a four foot permeable paver strip between the concrete sections. The two concrete surface sections slope all captured water to the center permeable paver strip. This captures all storm water in the area where it filters through the rock before collecting into the subdrain and flowing to the existing storm sewer. Since 2014 various alleys throughout the City of Cedar Falls have been reconstructed to the permeable alley system to help with the City’s storm water management.

The other two alleys listed above will be reconstructed as a new concrete surface alley with an inverted crown, allowing water to flow to the alley and direct it to the downhill City street. This allows for a storm water management system that efficiently transports water to the City’s storm water infrastructure.

The Alley Reconstruction Project helps reduce the number of alleys that require frequent maintenance, and also improves the City’s overall storm water management.

North Cedar Heights Area Reconstruction Phase 1 Project

Beginning in late April, the phased reconstruction of the North Cedar Heights Area will begin. The two streets slated for this complete reconstruction are: West Ridgewood Drive, from Greenwood Avenue to Cherry Lane; and Timber Drive, from Grand Boulevard to Greenwood Avenue. Reconstruction will include the sanitary sewer, watermain, storm sewer, and full depth asphalt with a concrete curb and gutter/edging. The North Cedar Heights subdivision is a small community of houses located atop the Cedar River’s bluffs, next to Hartman Bluff State Preserve, north of Grand Boulevard. The goal of this reconstruction effort is to assist with the current challenge of snow removal, trash pickup, sanitary service, storm water control, and even passing oncoming vehicles. In conjunction with this reconstruction, there is an area with a failed slope on the northern edge of West Ridgewood Drive, which has already been cleared of trees and will be remedied by the contractor during the reconstruction efforts.

2023 Street Construction Project

During the 2023 construction season, two City streets are queued for a reconstruction. Reconstruction involves a total removal and replacement of the roadway, with underground utilities replaced if needed. Often it requires closing sections of the road for two to three months. This work is primarily funded by the Local Option Sales Tax. The following streets are scheduled for construction during 2023: Street From To W. 18th St. Hudson Rd. Campus St. Madison St. Belle Ave. Virgil St.

The street with significant traffic impacts is W. 18th Street, which will be completed as two stages of construction. This allows for the shortest duration of closure while still maintaining meaningful accessibility to the directly impacted residences, as the contractor performs all necessary utility installation and pavement placement as uninterrupted as possible. It is anticipated that the W. 18th Street work will take approximately five months to complete, and the Madison Street work approximately two months. The work on W. 18th Street is anticipated to begin in late April.

Along these roadways, new sod will be placed by the contractor. Care for this new grass will become the responsibility of the property owners beginning 30 days after placement.

Olive Street Box Culvert

The City of Cedar Falls and its contractor, Peterson Contractors, Inc. of Reinbeck, Iowa, will continue with the Olive Street Box Culvert project. Crews will extend the existing College Street twin box culvert under Olive Street to replace the previous two span slab bridge on Olive Street. During the winter months the contractor installed shoring for the new culvert, placement of new sanitary sewer services, sanitary manholes, new water main, water services, and storm sewer structures. The overall project will also include downstream channel improvements, sidewalk improvements for walkability to the College Hill corridor, and placement of a new road section above the culvert. After placement of the culvert is completed, crews will focus their attention to the Petersen Plaza expansion. New landscaping will be placed on top of the new culvert, replacement of brick pavers, and new pedestrian lighting will be a few of the new amenities to the College Hill Corridor.

W. 27th Street Reconstruction

The City of Cedar Falls and its contractor, Peterson Contractors Inc. of Reinbeck, Iowa, will be continuing with the reconstruction of W. 27th Street project this spring. The focus of the 2023 construction season will start with paving operations at the W. 27th and Greenhill roundabout. After completion crews will work westerly, building two single lane roundabouts as entrances for the new CF High School.

The overall project includes improvements to the water main, storm sewer, sidewalks, trails, roadway lighting, landscaping, a new signal at Hudson & W. 27th, and other roadway items. Also included as part of the project, is the construction of three total new roundabouts at the intersections of Greenhill Road and two at the entrances to the new school. Below are the limits of construction for each phase:

Phase I: W. 27th Street at Panther Parkway (2022)

Phase II: Hudson Road Improvements and Greenhill Road Roundabout (2022–2023)

Phase III: W. 27th Street School Connections with Roundabouts (2023–2024)

During the 2022 construction season, crews reconstructed and widened 27th Street from the McLeod Center to The Quarters apartment complex, including reconstruction of the Panther Parkway intersection. As part of the Phase II work, crews will tie in on both sides of where construction was left in 2022. Near the McLeod Center, crews will install a new signal after the UNI spring semester. New trail connections and turning lanes will also be installed. To the west, crews will construct the Greenhill Road to W. 27th Street roundabout, and open to traffic as they work their way west along W. 27th to the new school entrances. By the end of the 2023 construction season, crews will work to have all of W. 27th Street—including the three new roundabout—open to traffic. Landscaping, grading, and final seeding operations will likely continue into the spring of 2024.

Various Intersection Improvements

This project consists of improvements to three intersections:

1. Hudson Road/Ridgeway Avenue: Due to the number of accidents in recent years, a traffic signal will be added. Due to long wait times for traffic signal materials, the signal will likely be installed in the fall.

2. Prairie Parkway/Brandilynn Boulevard: Landscaping will be added to the middle of the existing roundabout. The ground will be raised in the center of the roundabout and landscaping will consist of a combination of canopy trees, ornamental trees, ornamental grasses, shrubs, decorative rock, and monuments with street name lettering on them.

3. Prairie Parkway/Prairie View Road: This is also an existing roundabout that will undergo landscaping improvements. The landscaping will be similar to what is described above for Prairie Parkway/Brandilynn Boulevard. However, due to the large size of this roundabout, there will be larger volume of shrubs, decorative rock, etc.

The landscaping improvements are scheduled to start in the spring. For all three intersections, there are no anticipated road closures or necessary detours, and will remain open to traffic.

City Hall Remodel

In January of 2022, construction began on the City Hall remodel. After 14 months the construction is complete! Peters Construction worked with City staff and Emergent Architecture to complete the project. As of the beginning of March, any relocated operations and meetings have moved back including: public meetings, Mayor, City Administrator, Finance and Business Operations (including City Clerk and parking), Planning and Community Services, Inspection Services, and Engineering Services. Watch for announcements on an Open House date with guided tours to show all the changes and updates.

A few highlights from this remodel project are:

• Enhanced public areas, accessible bathrooms, larger area around Council Chambers, as well as public conference room and meeting rooms next to our lobby areas to meet with the public when they drop-in with questions or concerns.

• Ramps were added to Council Chambers to create an accessible dais.

• Reuse of the former police area. Police and Fire are at the Public Safety Center, 4600 S. Main St.

• Relocating the public service windows to allow for a one-stop-shop approach for citizens. This includes permitting (inspections, planning, and engineering), pet licenses, parking, housing, public events, etc.

• Updated energy efficient heating, cooling, and lighting.

• Enhanced security elements for staff.