Time to Get the Party Started!

It's about time to get this project rolling and within the next two weeks we should start to see construction happening along West 5th Street in Storm Lake!

There are TRAFFIC WARNINGS within this update - see below for more information.

On April 30th the City held a pre-construction meeting with the contractor, sub-contractors, utilities, and representatives of the major facilities along the route (BVRMC, BVU, and the School District) to go over the project scope and timeline.

West 5th Street Pre-Construction Meeting

During that meeting the contractor indicated that work would begin with the sub-contractor as early as May 19.  The initial work will include work on sawing out and replacing areas in the street that need full depth patching.  These are areas that were identified by the project engineer during project development.  Also included in this phase will be the removal and replacement of sections of curb and gutter along the route and the start of work on sidewalks.

Sidewalks are included with the project as part of the new regulations from the State of Iowa for projects funded in part with federal dollars.  The goal is to bring the sidewalks in compliance with the new American Disability Act regulations for sidewalk standards.  These upgrades will include new approaches with the ADA raised or truncated domes and slope adjustments.

There are TRAFFIC WARNINGS with this initial phase of work.  As the sub-contractor removes and replaces the patches in the street along with curb and gutter there will be sections of West 5th Street that will be limited to one lane traffic and subject to delays.  The contractor has agreed to try and facilitate work outside of the prime busy times during the day (early morning and then again around 5:00pm).

Anyone traveling in the area during the construction time needs to be alert for construction crews working and slow their speeds to ensure safety for the construction workers as well as pedestrians and drivers.  If there is an alternative route that can be taken the City would request that citizens use that alternative route and leave West 5th Street to local traffic and construction crews.  Proper advance notification signage will be in place during the construction times.

More to come as the work gets started.  Please remember that the best way to find out about updates on this project is to follow us on this blog and the project web page.  You can get blog posting updates by clicking "Like" on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofstormlake and by "Following" the City of Storm Lake on Twitter (@Storm_Lake).