Criswell Street Rehabilitation Project Moves South of Hopewell Avenue

UPDATES
JULY 1, 2024 - Beginning in the afternoon of Monday, July 1, 2024, the detour on Criswell Street will change as the contractor replaces the third of four culverts located south of Hopewell Avenue (see map below for the detour that begins in the afternoon of Monday, July 1).

JUNE 24, 2024 - Beginning Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the detour on Criswell Street will change as the contractor replaces the second of four culverts located south of Hopewell Avenue (see map below for the detour that begins Tuesday, June 25).


JUNE 20, 2024 - Beginning Friday, June 21, 2024, a portion of Criswell Street south of Hopewell Avenue will be closed to traffic as crews continue the process of replacing drainage culverts that cross under Criswell Street.

During this time, there will be rolling closures as each culvert is expected to take approximately three to five days to complete. The traveling public is asked to pay close attention to the direction of the detour signs as they will change with the rolling closures (see map below for the detour that begins Friday, June 21). The contractor anticipates this part of the project to take between four and six weeks, weather permitting, to complete the four culverts between Hopewell Avenue and Valley Drive.

JUNE 14, 2024 - Due to an unexpected discovery, Criswell Street north of Hopewell Avenue will be closed to traffic until the end of June, weather permitting. Crews have uncovered an underground utility that is in direct conflict with the culvert replacement process and cannot continue their work until the utility company can relocate it safely. During this delay, the current detour (see map below under June 7, 2024 Update) will remain in place.

JUNE 7, 2024 - Beginning Monday, June 10, 2024, a portion of Criswell Street north of Hopewell Avenue will be closed to traffic as crews begin the process of replacing drainage culverts that cross under Criswell Street. During this time, Forest Grove Drive will reopen at Criswell Street and be used as a detour route along with Hopewell Avenue (see map below). This closure is expected to last until Monday, June 17, weather permitting.

JUNE 3, 2024 -Beginning Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the intersection of Forest Grove Drive and Criswell Street is closing as crews replace a storm sewer. The closure is expected to last until Saturday, June 8th, weather permitting. Traffic will be detoured north to Indiana Avenue (see map below).

MAY 24, 2024 - Beginning Tuesday, May 28, 2024, work begins on Criswell Street from Valley Drive north to Forest Grove Drive as crews rebuild nearly 1.5 miles of roadway.

"Criswell St. has been targeted for improvement for several years as part of the City's Community Improvement Program," said Brent Morlok, City Engineer. "The area surrounding Criswell has seen substantial residential growth, which is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, and with that has come increased traffic. The old sealcoat surface can no longer support that traffic, so the decision was made to rehabilitate the street this construction season."

Project Overview
The Criswell Street Rehabilitation Project includes a full-depth reclamation process, which is a construction process that uses existing materials to rebuild roads rather than sourcing new materials. This process can improve the environment, reduce fuel costs, and create a stronger base for more durable roads. Once the base is in place, crews will pave the road with 4 inches of hot mix asphalt. Before the base is in place and the road is paved, crews will also replace drainage culverts that cross under Criswell Street which are currently in poor condition. This entire project is expected to take approximately three months, weather permitting.

Project Updates
To ensure the safety of the traveling public and construction workers onsite, there will be several closures and detours in place which will change as the project progresses. Throughout the entire construction period, the City will be updating this webpage as well as the City's Facebook Page, Nextdoor Account, and sending out texts and/or emails to users who opt into a specific Alert Iowa List entitled "Criswell Street Rehabilitation Project."

You can view all of the City's communications channels and customize your own by clicking here.

Project Schedule
The first closure is on Criswell Street just south of Forest Grove Drive where crews will be replacing the storm sewer. That closure is expected to begin on Tuesday, May 28^th and last until Tuesday, June 4^th, weather permitting. During this time, Forest Grove Drive will remain open to traffic, but traffic on Criswell Street will be detoured at Hopewell Avenue (see map below).

The second closure includes the entire intersection of Criswell Street and Forest Grove Drive as crews finish their work. That closure is expected to begin on Tuesday, June 4^th and last until Saturday, June 8^th, weather permitting. Traffic will be detoured north to Indiana Avenue (see map below).

The third part of the project will include a series of rolling closures as crews replace drainage culverts that cross under Criswell Street, starting on the north end and working their way south. Each culvert is expected to take approximately three days to complete. The traveling public is asked to pay close attention to the direction of the detour signs as they will change with the rolling closures. This part of the project is expected to take between four and six weeks, weather permitting. The City will update this webpage with a start date as crews wrap up their work at Criswell Street and Forest Grove Drive.

The fourth and final part of the project includes paving the new and improved street. The City will update this webpage with more information about the impact to traffic as crews begin wrapping up the culvert replacement phase.

"We appreciate everyone's patience as we understand construction is an inconvenience," said Morlok. "However, the finished product will be a great improvement for the area and the City as a whole."

Property owners who live on or off of Criswell Street received a letter from the City on April 30, 2024 with some important information regarding collection services and mail delivery services. To view the letter, click here.

NOTE: Beginning in mid-June 2024, Scott County will be replacing two bridges on Wells Ferry Road just east of Criswell Street. These projects will require full road/bridge closures and detours will be posted that may coincide with the detours mentioned above. To subscribe for updates on this project from the Iowa County Engineers Association, click here.