Project of the Week: 3rd Street SE from 8th Ave to 5th Ave

Third Street SE is a key road through downtown - and thanks to a new project starting this week, it is about to become a much smoother ride.

Crews got to work Tuesday on removing the old surface of 3^rd Street SE from 8^th Avenue to 5^th Avenue, so that it can be replaced with new asphalt. The project will also feature new pedestrian crosswalks that are enhanced with bump-outs (curb extensions) and ADA-compliant curb ramps at the intersections with 5th Avenue, 6th Avenue, and 7th Avenue.

Project Engineer Edgard Verdugo says that while the existing road's surface coating appeared to be fading, there were no major cracks or potholes were found, meaning 3^rd Avenue would not require a complete reconstruction.

When the street is resurfaced, the current traffic configuration will be preserved, which includes dedicated lanes for two-way vehicle traffic and bikes lanes and parking on both sides of the street.

The new Pedestrian crosswalk bump-outs will enhance crossings for pedestrians by improving visibility and providing extra space along the walkway. Curb ramps along the project corridor are being replaced to fit the new curb extensions, including two that did not meet ADA standards.

The entire project should be finished by November.

Keeping traffic flowing

There are a number of businesses along 3^rd Street SE, as well as the Community Y. All of them remain open for business throughout the project.

City crews communicated via mail, email, and phone to property and business owners along 3^rd Street SE well in advance of the project's launch. Also, a public informational meeting was held in May 2026.

"The primary concern that we received was regarding access," Verdugo says. In response, the City will complete one side of the street at a time to ensure that traffic can continue to get to businesses along the route.

Investing in the future

Residents often ask how streets are selected for repair each year. The City uses a 10-year management plan using pavement condition data collected on every street in Cedar Rapids. The data is collected by a vehicle that drives the surface of the roads and collects data on texture, pavement distress, and roughness.

Fresh data is collected every two years, and the plan is updated accordingly. Key Goals include:

• Fully reconstruct some of the roads in worst condition
• Perform less costly preventative maintenance to extend the life of additional roads, investing in those roads before they reach the end of their service life
• Make improvements to residential neighborhoods that have long been neglected
  
  

"The City is very grateful for residents' support of the Paving for Progress program," says Doug Wilson, Engineering Manager for Paving for Progress. "Without the local option sales tax being approved by voters twice, the program wouldn't exist, and streets like 3^rd Street SE would continue to deteriorate. Instead, we have been able to repair so many streets over the past 12 years."

You can learn more about the 3^rd Street SE project here. Learn more about Paving for Progress here.

Project of the Week puts a spotlight on work happening all over the City every day. Each week, we will take a closer look at projects that are investing in our community's roads, trails, Flood Control System, and more. See previous installments here:

September 4: Jacolyn Drive NW
August 27: Blairs Ferry Road Sidewalk Infill
August 20: Downtown Railroad Crossing Repair
August 13: 3^rd Street SW
August 6: CIPP Sewer Repairs
July 30: 6^th Avenue SW from 1^st Street to 2^nd Street
July 24: 4^th Street Trail Extension
July 17: 12^th Street SE/Coe Road
July 10: 34^th Street SE
July 3: Roundhouse
June 25: Mount Vernon Road
June 18: Grande Avenue SE
June 11: O Avenue NW Time Check Elevation Project
June 5: Nassau Street
May 28: Cedar Lake
May 21: Tree of Five Seasons Park
May 14: 20th Street NW
May 7: 18th Avenue SW
April 30: Alliant Energy LightLine™
April 23: 42nd Street
April 16: The 3rd Avenue Bridge