Despite the usual fall weather we’ve been experiencing, the University Avenue sewer and streetscape project has made significant progress over the last couple of months. Contractors have been hard at work installing storm sewer pipes, burying all utilities, relocating fire hydrants, and installing new streetlights. The north bike lane and sidewalks have started to take shape adjacent to the campus and temporary street paving is happening soon. The intent is to have all walk connections, street paving, and rough grading completed to provide two travel lanes and a center turn lane with a continuous sidewalk prior to shutting down this project for the winter. In the spring (before Drake Relays), the bus shelter, final street paving, and landscaping will be complete to finalize this new stretch of streetscape.
One of the unique aspects of this streetscape has been completed by 30th Street. This is the first area in the city to receive the newly designed bus stop with incorporated bike lanes that travel behind the bus stop in order for the bus to pick-up or drop-off passengers without any conflicts to bicyclists. There will be two new bus stops on the north side and eventually three on the south side.
As construction continues, please be aware of your surroundings in relation to traffic with limited sight lines and use caution when crossing University Avenue. Students, faculty, and staff are asked to use the pedestrian crossing light at Olmsted Lot for crossing.
— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning and Management