First phase of University Ave. work in CF nearly done – Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

CEDAR FALLS One can now literally survey the landscape, or landscaping, on reconstructed University Avenue in front of College Square and Black Hawk Village.

Work crews have installed new landscaping stones and plantings in and around several roundabouts constructed in front of the retail areas at Waterloo and Holiday roads and Boulder Drive, the first phase of the multi-year, $38.9 million project.

The first phase in front of the mall and generally between Grove Street and a point east of Waterloo Road, is about 95 percent complete, said Cedar Falls Community Development Director Stephanie Houlk Sheetz.

That work has a target completion date of July 31. Remaining work includes construction on the north frontage road generally between Waterloo and Holiday roads, as well as sidewalks and landscaping.

The second phase of work, generally from Waterloo Road to Midway Drive, will be spread over two years. Crews are about 15 percent into that phase. They are working at either end of that stretch of road, from Hillcrest Drive to Rownd Street and from Cedar Heights to Midway, with a roundabout at University and Cedar Heights.

Work on each of those sections is anticipated to be completed by about mid-November. The middle section, from Rownd to Cedar Heights, would be worked on in 2018. Rownd Street would remain a signalized intersection. Sheetz said the goal is to have both the Rownd Street and Cedar Heights Drive intersections complete by the end of the construction season in November.

The overall project calls for the narrowing of University from its previous six lanes of travel three lanes in each direction to four lanes, with two lanes of travel in each direction. Roundabouts are being installed at six of the eight previously signalized intersections. The third and final phase would be the portion under relocated Iowa Highway 58, between Boulder Drive and Main Street. The design calls for two roundabouts at the entrance and exit ramps to and from University under the interchange a double roundabout configuration sometimes referred to as a dog bone.

A major portion of University was once part of U.S. Highway 218, and then it became a state highway. The road had deteriorated significantly over the years. The state turned jursdiction of the road over to the city with $20 million to bring it up to a good maintenance condition.

Other revenues include sewer revenue bonds, local option sales tax, storm water and Cedar Falls Utilities revenues and street construction funds from the citys portion of state gas tax revenues. The city also received a $500,000 state safety grant for work at the Cedar Heights intersection and $450,000 from the Black Hawk County Gaming Association for bicycle, pedestrian and landscaping improvements.

Go here to read the rest:

First phase of University Ave. work in CF nearly done - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier