MUSCATINE, Iowa – The recent wet weather has not been a friend to construction activity in Muscatine during the past week but city officials remain optimistic that the ongoing projects will be completed ahead of schedule. With a forecast that indicates dry weather for the next 10 days, the various construction projects should remain ahead of schedule.
MISSISSIPPI DRIVE CLOSURE EXTENDED THROUGH SEPT. 10
The closure of Mississippi Drive to through traffic from Pine to Broadway has been extended through Monday, Sept. 10. The closure will be maintained from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, and again from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 10. Through traffic will be allowed after 7 p.m. Friday and throughout the weekend.
Heritage Landscaping is conducting maintenance of the median flower beds and will finish plantings from Linn Street to Broadway during this time period. Muscatine Power & Water (MPW) will also be onsite to trench in conduit from Pine to Broadway. MPW plans to extend the conduit to the Hershey Lift Station at a later date but that will not require closing Mississippi Drive.
The closure is weather dependent and may be changed. Drivers are urged to use the established detour (Main Street to 8th Street to Iowa Avenue) and avoid the area during working hours.
WEST HILL SEWER SEPARATION PROJECT
Three West 7th Street intersections will be closed starting Monday, Sept. 10 as KMA Excavating and KE Flatwork continues preparation for repaving the street from Iowa to Linn. Earthwork and rocking of the four block stretch is anticipated to be completed by Sept. 14 with the final preparations and paving starting on Sept. 17.
The current plan has KE Flatwork slip form paving this section and then returning to complete each intersection. This section of West 7th Street should be open to traffic by the end of September depending on the weather.
Storm and sanitary sewer work on Phase 4A of the West Hill Area Sanitary and Storm Sewer Separation project (WHSSSSP) continues with sanitary sewer work proceeding on Spruce Street from 7th toward 8th Street. Sewer work on 7th from Spruce to Locust and on Locust from 7th toward 8th remained to be completed in Phase 4A. KMA Excavating and KE Flatwork will work to prepare these sections for repaving once sewer work is completed.
Work on preparing and paving 7th from Linn to Locust and the final two sections (Spruce toward 8th and Locust toward 8th) is tentatively scheduled to be completed by Oct. 26. Phase 4A of the West Hill Sewer Separation Project is tentatively scheduled to be completed by November 9. The original contract date was November 30.
MISSISSIPPI DRIVE CORRIDOR RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
The Mississippi Drive Corridor Reconstruction Project (MDCRP) is closing in on a very significant date … the reopening of Mississippi Drive from Broadway to the #1 Alley on Mulberry Avenue. Pending the completion of punch list items and depending on the weather, the street is anticipated to be open for traffic sometime on Friday, Sept. 21.
Heister Masonry and ASI Signage Innovations continue work on completing the two monuments (one at Pine Street and the other at Walnut) along with street signs while Heritage Landscaping Solutions have been at work completing plantings in the medians and sidewalk areas along Phase 2 of the MDCRP.
The period street lighting along Mississippi Drive has been installed along with the traffic signals at the Cedar Street intersection by Muscatine Power & Water (MPW). The traffic signals were tested by MPW in coordination with the Canadian Pacific rail road crossing signals earlier this week.
KE Flatwork will be completing back filling on Mississippi Drive next week along with hydro seeding and sodding in the Phase 2 section.
2ND STREET – Mulberry to Mad Creek
Work on the Oak Street intersection with 2nd Street continues with the underground work and preparation for paving completed. KE Flatwork anticipates paving the intersection next week. Landscaping, sidewalks, and installation of the new traffic signals at the intersection should be completed by the tentative opening date for the intersection of October 1.
Work from the railroad crossing east to Mad Creek also continues with the section from the railroad crossing to just west of the Family Dollar store being prepared for paving which is tentatively scheduled for the first of October depending on the weather. The final section from Family Dollar to Mad Creek is tentatively scheduled for completion in November with the entire 2nd Street section reopened to traffic by mid-November.
FULL DEPTH PATCHING PROJECT
All-American Concrete has reopened Division Street between Evans Street and Breese but still have some work to do at those intersections. All-American is also currently working on Stewart Road and on Houser Street to replace several sections of the road. This will necessitate lane closures but no full closure.
Drivers should expect delays and be aware of oncoming traffic while driving through these work areas. Alternate routes of travel are urged while the work is ongoing.