Update - Schedule Update East 4th Street Work

Late Friday the contractor notified the City that the delay on the work along East 4th Street will be longer than original expected and that crews will not likely start at that location until the first week in August 2013.

That means the following potential schedule:

• Phase 1 of that work will start on or around August 4th and run through August 15th
• Phase 2 of that work will start on or around August 15th and run through August 23rd
• Phase 3 of that work will start on or around August 23rd and run through September 6th

Crews finished the week installing storm water pipe running north to the railroad tracks.  Work on this stretch should be completed middle of next week weather pending.

Crews install a manhole structure and the storm water pipe under a piece of sanitary sewer force main

Additionally the digging crew has finished the work on the large pond on Sunrise Park Road and has moved over to the smaller pond which is moving along quickly.  The contractor anticipates being done with that work Monday or Tuesday next week at the latest.

Progress on the small pond along Sunrise Park Road

Additional complaints about dust on Friday especially from the City's Spoil Containment Site where the contractor is hauling the dirt from the ponds.  The contractor is aware of the issues and is working on a solution to help reduce the dust.  They shut down hauling operation on Friday early to reduce the dust issue and plant to try and remove the top layer of dirt which has become so fine from all the trucks rolling over it on Monday prior to starting to haul again.  If they water the area down they track the dirt out on to the street which isn't good either.  They hope that by removing the loose dirt they can get down to packed dirt that will reduce the dust for the remainder of the hauling work. 

Dirt from the other ponds around the project area will NOT becoming to this location so once the small pond is finished (again the contractor is anticipating this to be done Monday (7.15) or Tuesday (7.16) at the latest) then the amount of traffic in this area will be greatly reduced.

The City will continue to monitor the dust situation as work continues.

Finally, residents in that area and anyone traveling along HWY 7/East Lakeshore Drive should note that beginning on Monday, July 15th, the State of Iowa will be closing HWY 71 at the Railroad Crossing just north of the lighthouse to facilitate repairs to the tracks.  This closure will result in to town a detour of traffic in along HWY 7 to Radio Road and then North.  Congestion will increase and drivers are encouraged to reduce speeds and take extra precautions.