Highway 7 Open to Traffic

The contractor has opened Highway 7 for thru traffic.  However, the traffic light at the intersection of Northwestern Dr. and Highway 7 is not installed.  The contractor is waiting for the traffic light to be shipped and then will install the light.

During the time there will not be a traffic light at the intersection, there will be a 4-way stop sign at the intersection.  Citizens are advised to use caution at this intersection.

The timeline for the traffic light installation is estimated to be within three weeks.

The City of Storm Lake wants to thank the citizens for their patience during construction.

Highway 7 Widening Project Update

Paving will continue today on the Highway 7 widening project.  If all goes well all of the asphalt for the entire project should be complete by the end of the day today.  A little more than 1/2 of Northwestern still needs to be paved and there are a few driveways that are left to be paved.

Due to rain on Friday of last week, the traffic signalization contractor did not get traffic lights installed as anticipated. The City anticipates this occurring early this week. Once paving operations are completed, the painting company should mobilize to perform application of pavement markings.

The project is getting close to completion.  The City again thanks the community for their patience during construction.

Highway 7 Widening Update

The shoulders in Phase A of the project will be completed today, (Friday October 2nd). This area is at the DOT Driveway and then continues west.

On Monday, the contractor will be switching traffic control over to partially close the Barton Street intersection to all traffic and start the pavement removals for Phase C of the project.  Phase C is from the DOT driveway east.  The south side of the Barton Street intersection will be completely closed to traffic during this phase.

During this phase access to the Fitness and Health Center driveway and the Iowa DOT yard will be from the west.  To allow this access the intersection of Northwestern Drive will be opened to local traffic only traveling east to the Fitness and Health Center and the Iowa DOT.  All other traffic should continue to follow the detour route.  The map below shows the access route to the Fitness Center and DOT yard.

The City apologizes for any inconvenience this project has caused and appreciates the cooperation of the community.

Map with access route to Fitness Center Driveway and DOT Yard

Weather Causes Problems with Project

The Highway 7 Widening project has run into a couple of problems which will not allow the intersection of Northwestern Drive and to the West to be opened as planned.  The contractor was planning on paving today, Saturday, and Sunday in an effort to get the intersection open.  Untimely rain has caused problems with getting the sub-base prepared for paving.  So paving is unlikely to take place as planned.

With the start of school on Monday citizens should be prepared to use alternate routes.  Updates will be posted as are received.

Update on Access During Closure

There has been a lot of thru traffic using Hwy 7 while construction is going on.  Today thru traffic will no longer be allowed to go through the construction area.

Access to all businesses and homes west of 1515 W. Milwaukee including Culligan will need to access from the West.  There will be no access from the East.

Access to all businesses and homes east of 1501 W. Milwaukee including United Assembly of God Church will need to access from the East. There will be no access from the West.

During construction citizens are reminded that the road is closed to thru traffic for the safety of construction workers and the public.

Below is a map of the construction area and road closures marked.

Progress Update on Highway Seven

Progress is being made on the Highway 7 Three Lane project! Existing pavement has been removed where needed, and an embankment has been built along the road in preparation for the third lane.  The area where the new lane will eventually be poured is beginning to take shape along the road, as seen in the photo below.

This photo shows the subgrade, or natural material, that the road will be paved on

Workers have also installed water drainage measures to prevent water from building up under roadways and damaging the pavement. A modified subbase has been laid down. The subbase, shown in the photo below, is made of gravel and allows water to flow out from under the pavement, into the subdrains. Subdrains, which were also installed this week, carry water away from the road.

Workers are expected to be on site next week to begin paving an asphalt base course. This base course provides strength and stability for the road.

Highway 7 Closure

Contractors have started work to convert Highway 7 into a three lane road, resulting in a road closure. The closure begins at the intersection of Highway 7 and Barton Street and continues to the intersection of Highway 7 and 90th Avenue. The road remains open to business and home owners in the closed area, but other drivers should avoid driving on the road when possible.

 Workers have started removing a part of Northwestern Drive north of Highway 7, shown in the photo above.

Crews have also started digging along the edges of the road in preparation for pouring of the new lane.