Road Report: Nov. 11, 2024

Construction season is winding down. Here’s our weekly look at what projects are done, where you’ll find traffic impacts and what’s scheduled next as long as the weather holds.

What’s underway

Benson Road: Work is continuing on the Benson Road bridge just east of Minnesota Avenue.

Crews are installing street lighting and placing topsoil along the new asphalt recreation trail.

They also are addressing miscellaneous punch list items and handling cleanup tasks.

In the next couple of weeks, they will complete dormant seeding along the recreation trail and apply temporary pavement markings on the bridge.

The bridge is expected to reopen to traffic in late November, although all work will not be finished until spring.

31st Street: Work is ongoing to reconstruct a block of 31st Street between Minnesota and Spring avenues.

The contractor is finishing the final layer of asphalt paving on 31st Street and grading the south end of the alleyway west of Spring Avenue to allow better drainage.

The project includes replacing a sanitary sewer manhole, installing storm drainage pipes, constructing a detention basin on a city-owned lot along Spring Avenue, improving accessible curb ramps and adding new sidewalks, curbs and gutters.

The project is expected to be finished later this fall.

Spring Avenue: On Nov. 5, Spring Avenue closed south of Russell Street to allow crews to work on new utilities. This work is anticipated to be completed in one week.

Minnesota Avenue: On Nov. 6, the southbound shoulder on Minnesota Avenue closed between 69th and 85th streets to allow crews to perform sidewalk improvements. Turn lanes within the construction area also are closed.  Weather permitting, this work is anticipated to be completed in one week.

What’s next

I-229 & Cliff: Beginning today, the Interstate 229 northbound off-ramp at Cliff Avenue will be closed. Weather dependent, it will be closed through Wednesday.

Cliff & 20th: Beginning today, the outside southbound lane on Cliff Avenue will be closed at 20th Street. Beginning Tuesday, the north side of 20th Street will be closed at Cliff Avenue, and westbound traffic will be diverted to the center turn lane to allow crews to work in the area. This work is anticipated to be completed by Friday.

Sixth Street: Beginning Tuesday, intermittent closures will take place on Sixth Street between Cliff Avenue and Interstate 229 to allow crews to perform pavement patching work. This work is anticipated to be completed in one to two weeks.

Madison Street: Beginning on Nov. 18, Madison Street will be closed between La Mesa Drive and Ellis Road to allow construction crews to install sanitary sewer lines. This work is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2025. Signs will be posted for a detour route.