Building Bridges to Elevate Employment  (B2E2) Project

Multimodal Transportation Corridors

The Building Bridges to Elevate Employment (B2E2) Project is a multimodal transportation project focused on connectivity and safety for all users. Improving these transportation corridors will better connect neighborhoods and residents with economic opportunities, recreational amenities, and community resources in the Kerper Boulevard Industrial Park, on Chaplain Schmitt Island, Downtown Dubuque, the Historic Millwork District, and on the west side of the city via the downtown Intermodal Transportation Center.

In addition, due to the merger of the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads, train traffic in Dubuque is expected to increase from approximately 9 trains per day to 18 trains per day by 2027. This surge in train activity will lead to significant delays and hinder the efficient movement of people and goods and significantly impact emergency response and key employment centers. The proposed 14th St. overpass will help avoid train crossing delays and potential negative impacts to safety and mobility in Dubuque's downtown urban core.

Multi-Phased Project

Initial Phases

A $25 million RAISE Implementation Grant will go toward construction of the initial phases of the B2E2 project including:

  • A vehicular/pedestrian overpass at the 14th St. railroad at-grade crossing
  • Roundabout at the 16th St. and Sycamore St. intersection
  • Roundabout at the 16th St. / Greyhound Park Rd. / Admiral Sheehy Dr. intersection
  • Elm St. corridor complete streets improvements
  • 16th St. complete streets improvements, including installing sidewalks along segments without existing sidewalks and enhanced crosswalks at the 16th St. and Kerper Blvd. intersection
  • Bridge sidewalk modifications to the Peosta Channel Bridge, including a pedestrian and bike shared-use path

The initial phases of the B2E2 project are expected to be constructed from 2027 to 2030.

Planning for the Initial & Future Phases

In 2022, the City received a $2.3 million RAISE Planning Grant to assist with the $4.4 million planning and design costs of the B2E2 project. The Dubuque Racing Association (DRA) provided a $750,000 contribution as a local cash match to make the planning grant a possibility. The City is currently working with a team of consultants to plan and design the initial phases of the project as well as additional safety, capacity, and mobility improvements along the designated corridors.

Preliminary Conceptual Renderings

  1. 1 14th St. overpass preliminary conceptual rendering
  2. 2 Elm Street preliminary conceptual rendering

Community Engagement

Over the next year, public information meetings and stakeholder meetings will be held. These meetings will provide property owners and residents with the opportunity to receive information about the project and allow the public to provide input and express their opinions regarding the proposed project. 

Pop-up community engagement events were held in the Washington Neighborhood in June 2025. Participants learned about the project and were invited to fill out the B2E2 public engagement survey. To stay informed about the project and future input opportunities, sign up to receive email and/or text updates about the B2E2 project.

residents looking at B2E2 information outside a building

Provide Your Input!

Whether driving, walking, or biking, the City of Dubuque wants to make it safer and easier for you to travel to your destination. The B2E2 project will better connect neighborhoods and residents to economic opportunities, recreational amenities, and community resources. Please take this five-minute survey. Your answers will help us develop a plan that meets the community’s needs.

Funding

In 2022, the City received a $2.3 million RAISE Planning Grant to assist with the $4.4 million planning and design costs of the B2E2 project. The Dubuque Racing Association (DRA) provided a $750,000 contribution as a local cash match to make the planning grant a possibility. 

In June 2024, the City was awarded a $25 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Infrastructure Implementation Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The total construction cost for the initial phases of the B2E2 project is estimated to be $38.7 million. In addition to the $25 million RAISE grant, Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportations Study (DMATS) will contribute $9.2 million, the City will contribute $3.6 million, and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad will contribute $1 million. With the $4.4 million dollars in planning and engineering costs, the total expenditure for the project will exceed $43 million. Construction will be completed in phases from 2027 to 2030. 

Questions?

Please contact the City’s Engineering Department via email or call 563-589-4270.