City Of Ames: South Grand Avenue Extension Ribbon-Cutting And Road Opening Set For October 29

Press release from the City of Ames:

10/19/2021 8:30 AM

The public is invited to join Mayor John Haila and the Ames City Council, along with City of Ames staff, consultant team, and contractors, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the South Grand Avenue Extension at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 29. Attendees should gather at the South Grand Avenue and South Fifth Street intersection.

The South Grand Avenue Extension project was constructed in several phases. The first phase included utility and intersection improvements at Grand Avenue and Lincoln Way in 2002. The next two phases included the sections from Lincoln Way toward South Fifth Street, and from South 16th Street north 400 feet. In 2020, another phase opened that included the extension of South Fifth Street from South Grand Avenue to South Duff Avenue. The final phase completes the connection between South Fifth Street to South 16th Street. South Grand Avenue now provides a through route from South 16th Street to the north boundary of Ames.

This multi-phase, multi-year project has involved multiple agencies, including the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Federal Highway Administration. Numerous consultants and contractors have been a part of this significant community project including engineering design by Shive-Hattery, Inc. and WHKS & Co.; land acquisition by A&R Land Services; prime contractor Peterson Contractors, Inc.; and construction inspection by HR Green.

A temporary traffic signal located at South Grand Avenue and South 16th Street will become operational on Monday, October 25. During the 2022 construction season, pavement and intersection improvements will be made on South 16th Street each direction from South Duff Avenue.

“Connecting South Grand Avenue provides another north-south route for motorists as well as pedestrians and bicyclists in Ames,” said Municipal Engineer Tracy Peterson. “By providing additional roadway connections, this extension, along with improvements made to South Fifth Street, will improve traffic flow and ease congestion in the area.”

South Grand Avenue will open for traffic immediately after the ribbon-cutting ceremony is complete. For more information, contact Tracy Peterson, Municipal Engineer, at 515.239.5163 or via email at tracy.peterson@cityofames.org

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