Two-Way Conversions
2019 Project Updates
Work will begin soon on the 3rd Avenue project downtown. We wanted to provide you with an update on what to anticipate.
Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin Monday, May 20, on 3rd Avenue SE between 1st Street and 5th Street.
This is part of an overall initiative to add important roadway and pedestrian improvements throughout the entire 3rd Avenue corridor, in addition to completing the final two-way conversion project.
Traffic Impacts
You can anticipate the following traffic impacts while work is underway on 3rd Avenue between 1st Street and 5th Street:
Traffic will remain one-way, eastbound only during construction. The road will convert to two-way traffic later this fall.
Between 1st Street - 3rd Street
One lane open eastbound
Between 3rd Street - 5th Street
Full closure while pavement and railroad crossing improvements are underway
Side Streets / Cross traffic
- 1st Street and 2nd Street will be temporarily closed while work is underway at those intersections.
- 3rd Street: one-way, southbound only between 2nd Avenue and 4th Avenue
- 5th Street: one-way, northbound only between 2nd Avenue and 4th Avenue
Sidewalks
Pedestrians will not lose access to buildings, but may need to detour to avoid work on sidewalk ramps. The trail adjacent to the railroad track will be closed between 2nd Avenue and 4th Avenue while improvements are underway.
Completion Date
We anticipate completing this segment by September.
2018 Project Updates
Project update: August 14, 2018
4th Avenue SE downtown is now open to two-way traffic. This completes the conversion work for the 2018 construction season.
The project on 4th Avenue between 3rd Street and 5th Street SE included new safety gates and crossing arms at the 4th Street railroad tracks, roadway resurfacing and conversion to two-way traffic, pedestrian bump outs, sidewalk improvements, a new crosswalk in front of the library, bike lanes, and transitioning from angle to parallel parking.
The 3rd Avenue conversion project is scheduled for 2019.
Project Update: July 27, 2018
5th Avenue SE downtown is now open to two-way traffic.
The Union Pacific Railroad has completed the installation of new safety gates and crossing arms at the 4th Street railroad tracks on 5th Avenue. Work has also been completed on the underground storm sewer, pedestrian improvements, pavement restoration, and new pavement markings on 5th Avenue between 3rd Street and 5th Street SE. This means 5th Avenue is now fully open to two-way traffic from 1st Street SE to 19th Street SE.
4th Avenue SE, between 3rd Street and the Cedar Rapids Public Library, is open to eastbound traffic only, where residents can access the library’s book drop-off window (4th Avenue was previously a one-way street for westbound traffic only). 4th Avenue is still currently closed in front of the library; 5th St SE between 4th and 5th Avenues is also currently closed.
4th Avenue will fully open as a two-way street in early August, following the completion of the railroad work, pavement, and pedestrian improvements currently taking place in front of the library.
Project Update: July 12, 2018
Union Pacific Railroad is in the process of installing new safety gates and crossing arms at the 4th Street railroad tracks on 4th Avenue SE and 5th Avenue SE downtown. Both avenues and the sidewalk will remain closed at the tracks while installation is underway.
The Cedar Rapids Public Library will remain accessible off 4th Avenue and 5th Street. Patrons can use the book drop-off lane available off 4th Avenue to access the parking lot behind the library. The 5th Street parking lot entrance is also available.
Railroad work at 4th and 5th Avenue is anticipated to be completed by late July/early August. The intersection of 5th Avenue and 5th Street is anticipated to fully re-open by the end of July.
Later this summer, when pavement, pedestrian, and utility work is complete, 4th Avenue and 5th Avenue SE will be converted to two-way traffic between 3rd Street and 5th Street SE, creating a consistent two-way network from downtown to the Wellington Heights neighborhood.
June 29, 2018
The Union Pacific Railroad has completed their work at 2nd Avenue and 4th Street SE, including the installation of safety gates and crossing arms on both sides of the tracks.
2nd Avenue SE is now fully open to traffic in both directions in the downtown core. This marks the first completed installation of gates and arms in the City’s two-way conversion plan. Union Pacific began the work early June.
Union Pacific is currently working on both 4th Avenue and 5th Avenue at the 4th St railroad. Both projects are also underway with pavement, utility, and pedestrian improvements. The 4th Avenue railroad work is anticipated to be completed by mid-July.
June 27, 2018
2nd Avenue
Union Pacific Railroad has recently completed the installation of safety gates and crossing arms on both sides of the railroad tracks. 2nd Avenue is anticipated to be fully open to traffic in both directions in the downtown core by June 28. This follows the pavement work that took place in early May.
4th Avenue
Improvements have begun on 4th Avenue SE between 3rd Street and 5th Street. Starting on Thursday, June 28, the intersection of 4th Avenue and 5th Street SE will have partial lane reductions; parking restrictions will also be in place on 4th Avenue. Railroad work is anticipated to be complete by the week of July 10. Later this summer, the roadway surface will transition from one-way to two-way traffic. The 4th Avenue project includes roadway resurfacing, new underground utilities, pedestrian bump-outs, traditional bike lanes, a mid-block crosswalk at the library, and transitioning the parking from angle to parallel.
5th Avenue
The railroad is currently in the process of installing safety gates and crossing arms on both sides of the tracks at 4th Street SE. The intersection of 5th Street and 5th Avenue has lane reductions in effect. Access to the Downtown Public Library will be maintained and is available via 5th Street or 5th Avenue; patrons can also access the back parking lot via the 4th Avenue book drop-off lane.
June 20, 2018
The Union Pacific Railroad continues to work on the installation of safety gates and crossing arms downtown. Gates and crossing arms on both sides of the roadway are necessary for two-way traffic flow. Below is a summary of the work currently taking place:
2nd Avenue Tracks
The railroad work is nearly complete at 2nd Avenue. Crews were required to fully close 2nd Avenue at the railroad tracks June 19 - 21. We anticipate the railroad will complete the installation at this crossing and complete final items by the end of next week (June 29), fully opening 2nd Avenue to two-way traffic at the tracks.
4th Avenue Tracks
The railroad is doing some preliminary underground work at these tracks; 4th Avenue remains open at this time.
5th Avenue Tracks
Union Pacific will begin working on these tracks next week. 5th Avenue is currently closed between 4th Street and 5th Street for both railroad work and utility/pavement replacements. Library access is available on 4th Avenue in front of the library; the back parking lot is available off 5th Street.
Two-Way Conversion
Public Works crews recently re-painted 5th Avenue SE between 3rd Street and the 4th Street railroad tracks, changing it from one-way to two-way travel. With the closure at the library and the current one-way layout of 5th Avenue in this area, this conversion will make it easier for businesses such as Klinger Paint, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Geneva Towers to get in and out of their buildings.
June 15, 2018
On Tuesday, June 19, 2nd Avenue SE will be closed to traffic at the 4th Street railroad tracks, and is anticipated to reopen for westbound traffic only by June 21. The Union Pacific Railroad is in the process of installing new safety gates and crossing arms.
2nd Avenue will remain westbound only between 3rd Street and 4th Street until after the installation of gates and arms. Gates and crossing arms on both sides of the roadway are necessary for two-way traffic flow.
June 11, 2018
On Tuesday, June 12, 2nd Avenue SE will be closed to traffic at 4th Street, and is anticipated to reopen for westbound traffic only by June 13. The Union Pacific Railroad is in the process of installing new safety gates and crossing arms. Future closures will occur June 19-20.
May 4, 2018
Starting on Monday, May 7, after the morning commute, the majority of 2nd Avenue downtown will be opened and converted to two-way traffic.This follows the pavement restoration work that took place over the past two weeks between 1st Street and 7th Street SE.
Starting on May 7, the new traffic pattern on 2nd Avenue will include:
- New two-way lane markings between 1st Street SE and 3rd Street SE
- Temporary westbound only between 3rd Street SE and 4th Street SE (at the railroad tracks)
- New two-way lane markings between 4th Street SE and 7th Street SE
Temporary Westbound-Only Block
2nd Avenue SE between 3rd Street and 4th Street will temporarily remain one-way, westbound only until after the installation of the railroad safety arms and gates at the 4th Street rail corridor.
Gates are required on both sides of the roadway in order to support two-way traffic operations. The City has been coordinating with the railroad, which is scheduled to install the gates/arms toward the end of May.
Temporary on-street parking restrictions will also be in effect on 2nd Avenue between 3rd Street and 4th Street SE; parking lots will remain open.
April 27, 2018
Starting on Monday, April 30, work will begin to resurface the travel lanes on the south side of 2nd Ave, between 7th Street and 1st Street.
Traffic Changes:
- Crews will begin at 7th Street SE and move toward 1st Street SE
- 2nd Ave will have one travel lane open at all times
- Business access remains open
- Temporary closures will occur on side streets south of 2nd Avenue
- It is necessary to keep cars off the new surface for a period of time before opening side streets
- Flaggers are on site to help assist with traffic flow
The resurfacing work is anticipated to wrap up by the end of this week.
2nd Avenue will be transitioning to two-way traffic operations in the near future. Project updates will be ongoing to help keep people informed of the changes.
April 26, 2018
This week, pavement improvements began on 2nd Avenue SE. The crews are milling and repaving the surface of the roadway between 1st Street and 8th Street.
Crews are working at very quick speeds, and will have the north lanes completed by this week. Next week will be the work on the south lanes.
During this time, crews will need to temporarily close the side streets adjacent to 2nd Avenue. They are staggering the closures as much as possible; opening the side streets as soon as traffic can safely be allowed on the new pavement, and closing them as their paving operations move down 2nd Avenue.
The pavement work should be completed within the next 1-2 weeks.
This is taking place now before the railroad will be on site sometime in May to perform their work on the gates/arms at 2nd Avenue near the trail. Additional information will be ongoing as work continues and the roadway transitions from one-way to two-way travel.
April 20, 2018
Work Starting April 23, 2018:
2nd Avenue: Pavement work on 2nd Ave, between 8th Street and 1st Street SE. Travel lane reductions and parking restrictions will be in effect.
5th Street: Storm sewer and pavement work on 5th St, between 4th Avenue and 5th Avenue SE. The intersection of 5th Avenue and 5th Street SE will be closed; lane and parking restrictions will also be in effect on 5th Street.
April 10, 2018
You will start to see construction activity resume on 2nd Avenue in the days and weeks ahead. This is ongoing sidewalk and pedestrian work, and will be weather-dependent the next few weeks.
This spring and summer, the railroad will conduct their work on the installation of crossing arms and gates at several avenues, including 2nd, 4th, and 5th Avenues downtown.
Once the gates are installed, work will begin later this summer on resurfacing these roads and converting them from one-way to two-way travel.
