This project details the ongoing reconstruction of West 27th Street, a vital artery in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The improvements span from the new Cedar Falls High School eastward to Hudson Avenue. This comprehensive project includes not only roadway reconstruction but also a significant sanitary sewer extension. This extension is designed to serve the new high school, the West Fork Development area, and surrounding neighborhoods, ensuring infrastructure upgrades keep pace with community growth.
Current Construction Activities on West 27th Street
Westbound Lane Closure (March 11th – Anticipated 4 Weeks)
Starting March 11th, 2024, the westbound lane of West 27th Street experienced a temporary closure. City contractor PCI initiated this closure to facilitate crucial tie-ins for the new school, along with trail work, brick setting, and landscaping enhancements. To manage traffic flow, road closure signs were strategically placed at the Greenhill roundabout’s westerly leg, directing drivers south towards University Avenue. Importantly, eastbound traffic on West 27th Street was maintained throughout this phase. This work was initially projected to last approximately four weeks, weather permitting. Public safety remained a top priority, with residents asked to stay clear of the closure area and the high school construction site itself.
Phase 3 Construction and Greenhill Road Intersection Changes (Starting July 17th, Approximately 5 Months)
Beginning Monday, July 17th, PCI moved into the third phase of the West 27th Street reconstruction. This phase involved pavement removals and the removal of the previous westerly high school construction entrance. A key change during this phase was the reopening of the Greenhill Road and West 27th Street intersection to general traffic. Access to the High School was rerouted exclusively via PE Center Drive, which became the designated high school entrance. This adjustment was necessary as crews focused construction efforts west of the Greenhill Road intersection. This phase was the longest, expected to last around five months, with the goal of having all three high school access points operational by the end of the construction season.
Paving Operations Near Hudson Road
Concurrently, separate crews continued paving operations in the vicinity of Hudson Road. Motorists encountered ongoing lane closures at the intersection of Hudson Road and West 27th Street, consistent with previous traffic management measures. Again, public safety was emphasized, urging everyone to stay away from active construction zones with heavy equipment operating within the closed street sections.
Traffic Signal Work at Hudson Road Intersection (Starting May 31st, Approximately 3 Months)
Starting Wednesday, May 31st, another phase commenced focusing on traffic signal upgrades at the West 27th Street and Hudson Road intersection. This work necessitated lane closures on both Hudson Road and West 27th Street. Pedestrian access was also affected, particularly concerning sidewalk and trail connections at the intersection. However, pedestrian access was maintained across Hudson Road, ensuring at least one east-west crossing for those accessing the University of Northern Iowa’s South Art Lot and the 27th Street Lot.
The work during this period included storm sewer connections, new trail and sidewalk installations leading to the intersection, the installation of a brand-new traffic signal system, and lane widening to improve traffic flow. These lane closures were anticipated to be in place for roughly three months, depending on weather conditions. All work at this critical intersection was scheduled for completion before the start of the fall semester, minimizing disruption to university traffic.
Safety remained paramount, with warnings to avoid the construction areas due to heavy machinery.
Project Phasing Overview of the West 27th Street Reconstruction
The West 27th Street Reconstruction Project is a comprehensive two-year undertaking, divided into three key phases to minimize disruption and manage the scale of work effectively.
- Phase I: Reconstruction of West 27th Street from east of Panther Parkway to The Quarters at Cedar Falls, extending just east of Greenhill Road.
- Phase II: Improvements at the Greenhill Road and 27th Street roundabout, alongside upgrades to the Hudson Road signal and lane configurations.
- Phase III: Reconstruction of West 27th Street west of Greenhill Road, specifically in front of the new High School, including the construction of two new roundabouts to enhance traffic circulation and safety.
Phase II activities involved pavement removal, underground utility placements, repaving, and the installation of new traffic signals. This phase was projected to take approximately four months, contingent on weather conditions. Throughout Phase II, access to key locations was carefully managed:
- University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Tallgrass Prairie Center: Remained accessible, but with access exclusively from Greenhill Road, as direct access from 27th Street was temporarily closed.
- The Quarters at Cedar Falls: Business as usual with continued access. The east driveway off of West 27th Street remained open, operating with two-way traffic throughout Phase II.
- Hudson Road/27th Street Intersection: Crucially, remained open in all directions. While lane and sidewalk closures occurred intermittently to facilitate traffic signal improvements, through traffic in all directions was consistently maintained.
For more in-depth information about the West 27th Street Reconstruction Project, residents and interested parties are encouraged to visit the official project webpage: https://www.cedarfalls.com/1646/West-27th-Street-Reconstruction. To receive timely road closure notifications via email or text message, please subscribe at www.cedarfalls.com/notify and follow the simple instructions for road closure alerts.
Phase I Construction Details (Starting May 31st, 2022, Approximately 2 Months)
Phase I of the West 27th Street Reconstruction Project commenced on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022. As outlined, this comprehensive project was structured into three significant phases over two years. Phase I specifically targeted the reconstruction of West 27th Street from east of Panther Parkway to The Quarters at Cedar Falls (east of Greenhill Road).
The construction activities in Phase I included the removal of existing pavement, the installation of underground utilities, and subsequent repaving operations. This initial phase was estimated to take approximately two months, weather dependent. Safety protocols were strictly enforced, with the public urged to avoid the construction area.
Despite the construction, key facilities remained accessible:
- All University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Parking Lots: Remained open, with adjusted access routes. Specifically, the 27th Street Parking Lot and the South Art Lot, located south of 27th Street, were accessible via Panther Parkway from 31st Street. Similarly, the West Dome Lot and the South Dome Lot could be reached via Panther Parkway from 22nd Street. Phase I was successfully completed before the first UNI home football game, ensuring full parking access and the reopening of Panther Parkway for game day traffic.
- UNI Recycling Facility: Maintained operations. Access to the roll-off container facility at UNI’s West 27th Street Lot was directed via Hudson Road to West 31st Street, then to Panther Parkway, and following the same route for departure.
For ongoing road closure notifications, residents were again encouraged to utilize the Cedar Falls notification system at www.cedarfalls.com/notify.
For any questions or concerns during construction, the following contacts were provided:
City Contact: Matthew Tolan, Phone: 319-268-5164, Email Matthew Tolan
PCI Contact: Matt Bohlen, Phone: 319-415-5219, Email: [email protected]
Sanitary Sewer Work on West 27th Street (Starting November 17th, 2021, Approximately 4 Weeks)
Starting Wednesday, November 17th, 2021, city contractor Pirc-Tobin initiated a full closure of West 27th Street between Union Road and Greenhill Road. This closure was specifically for sanitary sewer-related work, a critical component of the overall West 27th Street infrastructure upgrade. A complete road closure was necessary to allow the contractor to safely and efficiently perform the required work. This road closure was anticipated to last approximately four weeks, depending on weather conditions. The roadway was scheduled to reopen after the completion of the new sanitary sewer line placement to the high school site, followed by grading and paving operations to restore the road surface.
For inquiries during this phase of construction, Matthew Tolan could be contacted by phone at (319) 268-5161, via Email Matthew Tolan, or by fax at (319) 268-5197.
