It's been a long road this year: Projects have kept drivers detouring, but work is progressing

MUSCATINE, Iowa As schools get back into session, Muscatine's road construction is nearing the beginning of the end for this year.

Three of the projects that have been under way since the beginning of spring have made significant progress, according to project managers, but there still remains work to be done on all of these.

Cedar Street

Work has begun on the third of four stages of the Cedar Street Reconstruction Project, said project manager Bill Haag.

The first phase, which included Cedar Street from the Parham Street intersection to Stone Brook Drive, began in March and ended in May. It was then that the second phase, including Cedar Street from Houser Street to Imperial Oaks Drive, began. Just as the school year began for nearby Muscatine High School, which has an access road to Cedar Street in that area, the second phase of the constriction had been completed, Haag said.

The third phase of the Cedar street involves the area between Imperial Oaks and Stone Brook Drive. Earthwork and storm sewers have been completed, but paving for the roadway will probably start within a few weeks. Some utility infrastructure will also have to be repositioned as part of the reconstruction work.

Haag said the contractors are still looking to complete phase four, a roundabout intersection at Cedar and Logan streets, before Thanksgiving of this year. However, some of the accessory portions of the project, such as new sidewalks, new grass and other items, will likely have to wait until next spring.

"There's plenty of time to get that done," Haag said.

Colorado Street

After lagging somewhat behind schedule for the past couple of months due to inclement weather conditions, project director Jim Edgemond said work on the Colorado Street Reconstruction Project has gotten slightly ahead of schedule. "It's all pretty positive," he said.

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It's been a long road this year: Projects have kept drivers detouring, but work is progressing