Road construction season is starting to get into full swing in the Cedar Valley. Two major projects are scheduled to begin in Cedar Falls today (Thursday, April 30, 2015).

An extensive reconstruction of University Avenue west of Hudson Road will effect motorists most of the summer. Cedar Falls city engineer Matthew Hosford said contractors are beginning a project that will reduce the number of traffic lanes from four to two. When finished, a center turn lane will replace the median that currently separates traffic flow.

According to Hosford, the project won't be completed until late August. University Avenue will remain open throughout the three-stage project, but traffic shifts will be required during the construction process.

Mail delivery will also be impacted. Rural mailboxes within the project limits along University Avenue will be removed and temporarily relocated. Once road work is completed, the mailboxes will be returned to their original location.

The other extensive project beginning Thursday is the reconstruction of Magnolia Drive from West 1st Street to the southern entrance of the Fareway Stores parking lot. Hosford said the four-stage project requires a full road closure for six to seven weeks, depending on the weather, through late June or mid-July.

Hosford said the intersection at Whitetail and Magnolia drives will be closed during the road work, while the Whitetail Drive-West 1st Street intersection will remain open. Also remaining open will be the southern entrance to Fareway.

Detour signing will be in place on West 1st Street to direct traffic to access businesses south of the closure area on Magnolia Drive.

Multiple road resurfacing projects are also underway in Cedar Falls. Tremont Street is closed between West 20th and West 21st streets. The pavement replacement project began Wednesday and is expected to take up to four weeks to complete.

Other streets being resurfaced this week are:

  • West 14th Street from Franklin Street to Washington Street
  • West 14th Street from College Street to Tremont Street
  • Crestview Drive from Greenhill Drive to Valley High Drive
  • Western Avenue from Pine Street to Center Street
  • Park Drive from Grand Boulevard to Rainbow Drive

In all, there are more than 20 road projects impacting traffic in Cedar Falls.

Meanwhile, in Waterloo, a building project has forced the partial closure of a downtown bridge.

A contractor is re-roofing the multi-story Park Towers apartment building at the corner of Sycamore Street and Park Avenue. Because a large crane is needed for the project, both north-bound lanes of Park Avenue are closed on the east side of the Cedar River bridge. Traffic is being re-routed onto the southbound lanes between Cedar and Sycamore streets.

The Park Towers project began Monday and is expected to last about two weeks, weather permitting.

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