Northwest Arterial State of Good Repair Project

The Northwest Arterial State of Good Repair Project includes improvements from U.S. 20 to John F. Kennedy Rd. including the reconstruction of both the Pennsylvania Ave. and Asbury Rd. intersections, repaving the southbound lanes, and total reconstruction of the northbound lanes.

Click the map to enlarge.

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Multi-Phased Construction Schedule

Due to the magnitude and scope of work, the construction schedule includes multiple phases to reduce traffic delays and minimize impacts on schools and businesses through the corridor.

 Phase 1: June - November 2022

Pennsylvania Ave. Intersection
Estimated Schedule: June - July 2022
Phase one of the project will start on Monday, June 6, with the reconstruction of the Pennsylvania Ave. intersection.  First, the western half of the intersection will be closed for approximately two weeks. After the western half of the intersection re-opens, the eastern half will be closed for approximately an additional three weeks. The schedule is weather-dependent but is expected to take a total of four weeks.

Penn-Ave.-Intersection_Web

Western Half Closure Traffic Impacts
Northwest Arterial southbound traffic through the intersection will be maintained but there will be no right turns onto westbound Pennsylvania Ave. and the left turn lane onto eastbound Pennsylvania will be closed. 

A posted detour will reroute Pennsylvania Ave. eastbound traffic west of the arterial to Heacock Rd. to Asbury Rd. to John F Kennedy Rd. Westbound traffic on Pennsylvania Ave. east of the arterial will be detoured north on the Northwest Arterial to Asbury Rd. to Radford Rd. 

There will be no left turns from Pennsylvania Ave. onto the Northwest Arterial. Westbound motorists on Pennsylvania Ave. seeking to travel southbound on the Northwest Arterial will be detoured north on the arterial to Asbury Rd. to Radford Rd. to Chavenelle Rd. 

Motorists on the Northwest Arterial seeking to travel westbound on Pennsylvania Ave. will be rerouted to Chavenelle Rd. or Asbury Rd. Residents and businesses on the detour routes should prepare for increased traffic during the closure.

Eastern Half Closure Traffic Impacts
Northwest Arterial northbound and southbound traffic through the intersection will be maintained. 

The detour route for Pennsylvania Ave. eastbound traffic west of the arterial will continue to be Heacock Rd. to Asbury Rd. to John F. Kennedy Rd. Note, Pennsylvania Ave. eastbound traffic west of the arterial may turn right at the Northwest Arterial intersection to travel southbound toward Dodge St. 

Northwest Arterial southbound traffic may turn right onto Pennsylvania Ave. to travel westbound.

A posted detour will reroute Pennsylvania westbound traffic east of the arterial to John F. Kennedy Rd. to Asbury Rd. to travel north of Pennsylvania Ave. or to John F. Kennedy Rd. to Dodge St. (HWY 20) to travel south of Pennsylvania Ave.

Asbury Rd. Intersection
Estimated Schedule: July -  August 2022
Next, the Asbury Rd. intersection will be reconstructed. The contractor is NOT allowed to work on both intersections at the same time and is required to complete the intersection reconstruction work before school starts in August 2022.

Traffic Impact
Detour details will be shared closer to the closure.

Asbury-Rd.-Intersection_Web

Northwest Arterial Southbound Lanes
Estimated Schedule: August - November 2022 
After the intersection work is complete, the repaving of the southbound lanes of the Northwest Arterial will begin. In addition to milling and resurfacing the lanes, four-foot-wide paved shoulders will be added to widen the road. The estimated completion date of this construction phase is November 15, 2022.

Traffic Impact (Night Work Only, 7 p.m. - 7 a.m.)
To maintain traffic flow through the corridor as much as possible, the contractor is required to conduct all work on the southbound lanes at night between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. There will be lane shifts to accommodate construction. 

 Phase 2: April - August 2023


Northwest Arterial Northbound Lanes
The work on the northbound lanes will include total reconstruction including the removal of the existing concrete pavement, excavation for new stone base, installation of pavement subdrains, new 12-inch stone base, and new 13.5-inch asphalt pavement. This work will be completed during the 2023 construction season.

Traffic Impact
Complete closure of the northbound lanes. Two-way head-to-head traffic in the southbound lanes with median crossings at Pennsylvania Ave. and Asbury Rd. allowing for normal traffic flow through the intersections.

Project Detours and Construction Alerts

To stay updated on construction-related street closures and detours, sign up for email and/or text alerts through the Northwest Arterial State of Good Repair Project Detours & Construction Alerts NotifyMe. 

Project Funding

The total project cost is approximately $9.2 million, the majority of which will be paid for through state funds and grants including $4.8 million in Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study Surface Transportation Program SWAP funds, $4.2 million from the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), and a $105,000 Iowa DOT Traffic Safety Improvement Program grant. In addition, $75,000 in city funds will be used to extend the left-turn lane at John F. Kennedy Rd. 

For questions or more information, contact the Engineering Department at 563.589.4270.