Road Report: June 20, 2022

Construction season is here, so we’re back with our weekly look at what projects are done, where you’ll find traffic impacts and what’s scheduled next.

What’s underway

41st Street & I-29: Marion Road reopened to traffic south of 41st Street on Friday. Temporarily, there is a large grade change from the new pavement to the existing roadway. Drivers should proceed slowly and use extreme caution when driving through the intersection.

Paving on 41st Street will occur this week, weather permitting, between Marion Road and Terry Avenue.

Temporary intersection closures on 41st Street west of I-29 will continue periodically to allow crews to reconstruct the street surfacing. Temporary closures of Terry Avenue, Cathy Avenue and Gateway Boulevard at 41st Street will alternate; only one intersection will be closed at a time.

Westport Avenue: Westport Avenue near the Sanford Sports Complex was reduced to one lane just south of Cherry Hill Drive on June 15. A portable traffic signal is set up to alternate traffic through the one-lane section. This work is expected to be complete in about two weeks.

10th Street: Lane closures began June 15 on eastbound 10th Street at Fairfax Avenue to allow crews to perform a concrete pavement repair. The lanes closed will vary as the work progresses. This work is expected to be complete in about one week.

Sycamore Avenue: On Sycamore Avenue between 26th and 57th streets:

• Asphalt resurfacing work began on Sycamore Avenue between 41st and 57th streets June 16. This process grinds the top 2 inches of asphalt off the surface in preparation for a new asphalt surface to be installed. Intermittent lane closures will be set up to shift traffic to allow room for milling and paving equipment. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction. Asphalt paving will happen later next week or the following week.

• Grading work in the 33rd Street intersection is in progress. The street is closed on both sides of Sycamore Avenue, but one lane of traffic in each direction is being maintained on Sycamore. By the time school starts in August, 33rd will reopen to traffic.
• Underground utility work is complete in the first phase of work at the 41st Street intersection. Grading and cement stabilization of the subgrade is in progress now. Gravel installation will begin next week, followed by concrete paving. Cement stabilization of the subgrade increases the bearing capacity, or strength, of the subgrade soils. This reduces the amount of soil that needs to be hauled off the project and reduces the amount of gravel that needs to be hauled into the project. This results in an overall cost savings to the project, less traffic congestion from fewer trucks hauling material into and out of the project, and less wear and tear on the surrounding roadways.
• Most of the concrete repairs outside of the 41st Street intersection are complete.

Cliff Avenue: Work continues on Cliff Avenue between 49th and 57th streets. Underground utility work is in progress and is expected to be complete in about one month.

After the underground utilities are complete, grading and paving work will begin.  The city is still on schedule to reopen Cliff to one lane of traffic in each direction by the time school starts in mid-August. The overall project won’t be complete until later this fall.

What’s next

41st Street: Beginning today, the outside eastbound lane on 41st Street will be closed at Summit Avenue to allow crews to make utility repairs. This work is expected to be complete by the end of the day.

Minnesota Avenue: Beginning on Monday, June 27, the outside northbound lane of Minnesota Avenue will be closed between 37th and 41st streets to allow crews to complete sidewalk improvements. As part of this work, the outside eastbound left turn lane from 41st onto Minnesota also will be closed. Southbound traffic will not be impacted at this time. This work is expected to be complete by mid-July.