The replacement of the Broadway viaduct (from 8th to 16th St) has been on the burner for several years now, and things are slowly inching forward. Missed this meeting last night (too many meetings to attend in one night, that's for sure), but it sounds promising for a much improved viaduct. Closing Broadway for a year or so may be a headache beyond pale (especially if the interstate reconstruction is in full swing at the same time), but well worth it in the end.
The current viaduct is only 64 feet wide, while the new structure would be 80 feet wide, including 8-foot-wide shoulders on both sides. The shoulders would allow for emergency parking or allow traffic or emergency vehicles a way to get around stalled vehicles or an accident on the viaduct, he said. Better protection for the pedestrian walkway would also be constructed, he said.
and
He also said the Iowa West Foundation would like to get involved, especially in the design process, to help make the new viaduct a "signature bridge" for the community.
"They would like to have input," Harris said.
When asked if the IDOT has talked with Iowa West for any funding help, Harris said, "We haven't crossed that bridge yet, pardon the pun."
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
Looks like IDOT must be counting on the economic stimulus package to be ready to move so quickly after letting this languish for a couple years...
A public meeting to discuss the proposed replacement of the Broadway viaduct will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Community Hall, 205 S. Main St.
Iowa Department of Transportation staff will be on hand to discuss details of the proposed project, but no formal presentation will be made.
Construction would begin in 2010 and be completed in the fall of 2011.
The proposal calls for eastbound traffic to be allowed on the viaduct during construction, but westbound traffic would be detoured.
The detour would take drivers north to Eighth Street, then west on Avenue G to 16th Street and then back south to West Broadway. Plans call for resurfacing some of the detour route next year.
Early estimates put the price of the project at about $29 million, with funding coming from federal and state funds, said Scott Suhr, district planner for the Iowa Department of Transportation. For more information call the department at (712) 243-7627 or (800) 289-4368.
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
If all goes as planned, Council Bluffs motorists will be driving on a brand new Broadway viaduct by the summer of 2011, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.
The new viaduct would replace the current aging structure over the railroad tracks between Eighth and 16th streets. . . .
The new viaduct will be four lanes, like the current structure, but will be taller and wider, IDOT officials said at a public information meeting Tuesday evening. The total width of the current structure is 64-feet. This includes a sidewalk that's only 6-feet wide. Two lanes of traffic on the current structure are only 26-feet wide.
The new structure would be more than 74-feet in width, including a 10-foot-wide sidewalk and 29-feet in width for two lanes of traffic. There would also be a bigger median barrier between the two eastbound and two westbound lanes. It would also be 7-feet taller than the current structure.
Estimated cost for the new viaduct is $20 million, according to Scott Suhr, an IDOT official. . . .
The current viaduct, built in 1955, is reaching the end of its useful life, according to the IDOT. The deck on the current structure is in poor condition, as well as the viaduct's supports and beams. It also lacks current standard vertical clearance over 10th Street. . . .
The construction would be done in two phases. The first phase would move the two eastbound lanes to the north half of the viaduct, while the south half would be dismantled and a new section built. When that's done, the second phase would move eastbound traffic over to the new section and the other half then dismantled and a new section built.
During this time, westbound traffic would be detoured on Eighth Street to Avenue G to 16th Street and back to Broadway. . . .
The letting for the project is tentatively scheduled for January 2010. The first construction phase is set to begin shortly after the contract has been awarded and completed that fall. The second phase will then begin and be completed in the summer of 2011, according to the IDOT schedule. The IDOT, the city and the Iowa West Foundation are working together on aesthetics for the bridge, Suhr said.
The new structure might be the start of more renovation, according to Hanafan.
"I would like to see West Broadway totally redone," he said. "Reconstructing an old town is piece by piece."
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
One might call it the dawn of a new age for Council Bluffs.
Work should start soon on what eventually will be a new Broadway viaduct topped off with artwork that could be perceived as rays of the sun in a sunrise, according to the artist.
The first phase of this multi-portioned project will involve the re-pavement of North Eighth Street, which will be a detour route for westbound motorists during the construction. . .
After that phase is completed, however, westbound motorists will continue to use the viaduct until construction starts on it early next year, Suhr said.
Bids for that work are to be let in January with actual construction beginning in February or March, he said. Stage 1 of the bridgework will involve moving the two eastbound lanes over the current westbound lanes to allow removal of the southern section, and then the construction of a new section. That’s scheduled for completion that fall.
Then, Stage 2 will involve moving eastbound traffic back to the new section and then the similar process of removal and construction on the north section. That’s set for completion in the summer of 2011. . . .
The new Broadway viaduct, with the first phase set to begin shortly with detour work, will feature public art that can be perceived as rays of the sun in a sunrise. The first phase will begin shortly with detour work.
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
Wow! That is going to look really awesome. I must say, CB seems to do the best work in the metro area when it comes to streetscaping. Now if only the section of Broadway west of there would revitalize itself a bit quicker to match it.
Replacement of the Broadway viaduct won’t start in earnest until next spring, but preliminary work has already begun, according to a state roads official.
Westbound traffic, on the north side of the viaduct, will be restricted to one lane for several weeks to allow some necessary surface patchwork, said Orest Lechnowsky, an Iowa Department of Roads engineer. . . .
The plans call for the south side of the West Broadway viaduct to be taken down and replaced with a new section first. That is scheduled for completion next fall. Then, eastbound traffic will revert back to the new section to allow the removal and replacement of the northern section. That is set for completion in the summer of 2011. . . .
Last edited by icejammer on Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
Wow. I hadn't seen that rendering yet. Way to go CB! You've really set a precedent for injecting aesthetics and art into new roads projects. Omaha could really take a lesson.
I'd love to see this type of artistic "vision" if/when all the I-480 overpass streets are re-done. I'm sure they could easily be re-outfitted with art elements and streetscaping. In fact, I'm pretty sure Destination Midtown proposed such updates.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
I'm still not sold on the style of the new bridge design. It, along with other projects, do not seem to fit in together or follow any sort plan for design. If the avenue G viaduct were similar to the new design, I'd be all for it. If it were in a completely different part of town, i may be for it. But broadway is 8 blocks away, and the two bridges don't seem to compliment each other. It's like the city was going for conservative-traditional, with a little art deco flair in the metal work done along the ave G viaduct. Why not play off of that for the broadway viaduct, instead of going a completely different route? I'm concerned that the city is going to look like a hodge-podge of ideas, and that our style will be known simply as the "bunch of |expletive| thrown together to try and look artsy and inspired...and failed"
thenewguy wrote:I'm still not sold on the style of the new bridge design. It, along with other projects, do not seem to fit in together or follow any sort plan for design. If the avenue G viaduct were similar to the new design, I'd be all for it. If it were in a completely different part of town, i may be for it. But broadway is 8 blocks away, and the two bridges don't seem to compliment each other. It's like the city was going for conservative-traditional, with a little art deco flair in the metal work done along the ave G viaduct. Why not play off of that for the broadway viaduct, instead of going a completely different route? I'm concerned that the city is going to look like a hodge-podge of ideas, and that our style will be known simply as the "bunch of |expletive| thrown together to try and look artsy and inspired...and failed"
I agree. The Ave G viaduct is a pretty timeless piece of construction. When millions are invested, I am all for timeless. The design for the new Broadway viaduct doesn't fit the design or feel of the rest of the city.
Brad wrote:They started removing the eastbound lanes.
East bound is using the west bound lanes and the west bound traffic is detoured over to Avenue G.
Not sure why they closed it off completely to westbound rather than making it one lane each way...really sucks during the afternoon rush when a train is in the area.
OmahaBen wrote:Not sure why they closed it off completely to westbound rather than making it one lane each way...really sucks during the afternoon rush when a train is in the area.
Then you are not going all the way to Avenue G? Avenue G is a brand new Viaduct.
OmahaBen wrote:Not sure why they closed it off completely to westbound rather than making it one lane each way...really sucks during the afternoon rush when a train is in the area.
Then you are not going all the way to Avenue G? Avenue G is a brand new Viaduct.
I take 5th Avenue if there's no train - it's a nearly straight shot from work to my apartment with only 4 stop signs. Going to Avenue G takes me way out of the way unless I need to stop at the Hy-Vee on 16th for something (god I can't wait til the new one opens on Broadway)
windsor wrote:I don't think the detour is that bad. You could always take 480 in and zip down that little used 2nd ave or get off at Harra's and use 9th Ave.
Neither of which helps since the detour is for traffic going away from downtown Council Bluffs heading West, towards Omaha.
Assuming you are in downtown Council Bluffs and you wanted to get to Omaha, would it not be faster to jump on the south expressway to I80 and over? May be not if you were going to the Qwest Center or or the River front but anywhere west of downtown you would think it would be faster.
I did snap some pics of the destruction the other day. I need to get them posted.
windsor wrote:I don't think the detour is that bad. You could always take 480 in and zip down that little used 2nd ave or get off at Harra's and use 9th Ave.
Neither of which helps since the detour is for traffic going away from downtown Council Bluffs heading West, towards Omaha.
I agree neither helps. If you are going WB getting to 2nd Ave is a pain and takes time. Also, 2nd Ave doesn't move well. There are a lot of stop signs and a fair amount of traffic.
they had the bridge shut down completely last night---at about 8 i saw a crane trying to lift the overhead sign supports out. Does this mean it's now shut down permanently, or will they reopen the north side?
thenewguy wrote:they had the bridge shut down completely last night---at about 8 i saw a crane trying to lift the overhead sign supports out. Does this mean it's now shut down permanently, or will they reopen the north side?
It was just going to be shut down while they removed the overhead sign. It was suppose to reopen to EB traffic after it was removed.
So what are those poles being installed on the Broadway viaduct many motorists are probably asking?
They’re part of the modern artwork that will complement the new viaduct, an Iowa West Foundation official said.
“The intention of the art is to span the whole viaduct,” said Rich Sorich, the foundation’s special projects manager. “It will add some life and make driving over the viaduct an even more pleasurable experience.”
When the project is completed, the viaduct will be topped off by colorful poles that intermingle with each other, plus lighted poles up and down the sides for a dramatic look at night, Sorich said. . . .
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
This is a thread about the Broadway Viaduct Replacement, not a forum for debating the merits of public art, please keep the comments in that vein, thanks.
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
