Project of the Week: 2nd Street SW

The Especially For You Race Against Breast Cancer is a key tradition in downtown Cedar Rapids.

As part of the route for Sunday's race, 2^nd Street SW will be ready.

Crews have been working to place a new layer of asphalt on 2^nd Street SW from 3^rd Avenue to 5^th Avenue, but they knew the race was coming. This week, they milled the surface and re-paved, then took time to ensure that the surrounding area will be safe for participants and spectators for the race. This includes fencing off a few areas where final touches are still being applied.

The entire project is very close to completion - and once finished, it will feature more than just a new surface. It will also have repaired curbs, new sidewalks, and new ADA-compliant ramps.

"These are great projects," says Streets Supervisor Brett Lerch. "When a street gets a total facelift - from fixing failing infrastructure, to a brand new surface - it really spruces up neighborhoods. Some of the streets we work on have been around for more than 100 years, so revitalizing them is very important for the future."

The work is made possible by Paving for Progress, a program that exists solely for the maintenance, repair, construction and reconstruction of public streets. The program is funded by a one percent local option sales tax, meaning the repairs are funded by both Cedar Rapids residents and visitors who shop and dine in our community.

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 intersections like the ones along 2^nd Street SW 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 2^nd Street SW 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 24: ROADEO and winter snow training
September 17: Bever Avenue and Green Valley Terrace
September 10: 3^rd Street SE
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