MUSCATINE, Iowa – Progress in being made to wrap up two construction projects in Muscatine but the next five days of below normal temperatures are expected to slow that progress.
West 7th Street has been the focus of Phase 4A in the West Hill Sewer Separation Project with that street now open from Iowa to the end of the 300 block including the cross streets of Pine and Chestnut. The intersections of Linn and Spruce remain closed, however, along with West 7th Linn to Locust until the sidewalks and driveways is completed, and the dirt work and seeding behind the curb is completed.
The sanitary and storm sewer installation for Phase 4A of the West Hill Area Sanitary and Storm Sewer Separation project has been completed on West 7th Street from Iowa to Locust. The last block of sanitary sewer replacement for 2018 Phase 4A is on Locust Street and that portion is expected to be completed by Monday (Nov. 12).
The need to accommodate the sewer work on Locust resulted in a decision to build a temporary connection of the #7 alley onto Spruce Street. Traffic can move out of the #7 alley in the 500 block to the east and out toward West 8th Street. Residents should note that access to Spruce from the #7 alley in the 400 block does not go through to Spruce. That alley tie-in was poured this week, is still curing, and is not open to traffic.
The arrows in the attached map show the available alley access routes and escape routes back to West 8th Street.
With the next five days unfavorable to pouring concrete, crews from KE Flatwork, Inc., and KMA Excavating will continue to prepare Locust Street for paving while also back filling with dirt and seeding behind the curb from Linn to Locust and along the repaved portion of Spruce. Residents will be notified of additional closures when crews return to pour concrete once temperatures moderate.
Phase 4A of the West Hill Sewer Separation Project is tentatively scheduled to be completed in December.
The last major pours on 2nd Street were accomplished Thursday (Nov. 8) but some smaller pours have yet to be completed. Heritage Landscaping was on site to work on the medians this week. KE Flatwork hopes to have this section of the Mississippi Drive Corridor Reconstruction Project significantly complete before Thanksgiving.
The eastbound lane on Mississippi Drive from Pine to Broadway was scheduled to re-open at the close of business Thursday following a two-day closure for utility work by KE Flatwork, Inc., and Muscatine Power & Water (MPW).