Ames Welch Avenue Reconstruction Continues: Stage 4 Begins Wednesday

Press release from the City of Ames:

July 14, 2020

The fourth stage of the reconstruction and redesign of Welch Avenue, from Lincoln Way to Chamberlain Street, will begin on Wednesday, July 15, with pavement removal and underground utility improvements extending south on Welch Avenue from the CVS/Kingland driveway to the middle of Fire Station No. 2 driveway. The entire project will include replacing original infrastructure that is more than a century old, along with Welch Avenue pavement reconstruction and water quality improvements.

The City of Ames has contracted with Con-Struct Inc., for this project. Subcontractor On-Track will continue with the fourth stage of construction on Wednesday, weather permitting. Welch Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Lincoln Way to Chamberlain Street, although access to the CVS/Kingland parking lot will be available from Lincoln Way. A temporary chain link fence will be placed along the length of the project from Lincoln Way to Chamberlain Street to provide pedestrian access during construction. This stage of the project is anticipated to take three to four weeks.

Throughout the construction, access will be maintained to businesses along Lincoln Way and Welch Avenue. Parking will be available along Chamberlain Street and at the Ames Intermodal Facility, 129 Hayward Ave. Access to parking in Lot X will also be available from Hayward Avenue. Designated delivery areas will be provided along Lincoln Way and Chamberlain Street. More updates will be provided as construction proceeds.

Special features of the new Welch Avenue will include bike lanes in both travel lanes, permeable pavers and tree trenches for improved stormwater management, and extended sidewalks. The entire project is anticipated to be completed by the end of November.

In response to concerns regarding COVID-19, the City has instructed inspectors and the contractor to maintain a social distance of at least six feet, use gloves when necessary, and to stay home when they are sick. Saw cutting of joints in newly poured pavement and existing pavement for removal is critical and it will be disruptive. The contractor will start saw cutting early in the morning prior to businesses opening hours.

Those in the area should take note of construction activity and allow extra travel time as delays may occur. For safety reasons, please keep children and pets away from the construction zone.

For more information, contact Hafiz Ibrahim, Civil Engineer, at abdelhafiz.ibrahim@cityofames.org or 515.239.5245. For general construction updates, go to www.CityOfAmes.org/Construction

This press release was produced by the City of Ames. The views expressed here are the author’s own.