Welch Avenue Reconstruction Continues; Chamberlain Street Intersection In Ames Closes From October 1

Press release from the City of Ames:

September 30, 2020

The fifth stage of the reconstruction and redesign of Welch Avenue, from Lincoln Way to Chamberlain Street, will begin on Thursday, Oct. 1, with pavement removal and underground utility improvements extending south on Welch Avenue from the driveway of Fire Station No. 2 to the middle of Chamberlain Street. The intersection of Welch Avenue and Chamberlain Street will be closed during this stage of the project, which is anticipated to take two to three weeks.

The City of Ames has contracted with Con-Struct Inc., for this project. Subcontractor On-Track will continue with the fifth stage of construction on Thursday, weather permitting.

Welch Avenue remains closed to through traffic from Lincoln Way to Chamberlain Street, although access to the CVS/Kingland parking lot is available from Lincoln Way. A temporary chain link fence has been placed along the length of the project from Lincoln Way to Chamberlain Street to provide pedestrian access during construction.

Throughout the construction, access has been maintained to businesses along Lincoln Way and Welch Avenue. Parking is available along Chamberlain Street, Lincoln Way, Hayward Avenue, and at the Ames Intermodal Facility, 129 Hayward Ave. Access to parking in Lot X is available from Hayward Avenue. Designated delivery areas are provided along Lincoln Way and Chamberlain Street.

The entire project includes replacing original infrastructure that is more than a century old, along with Welch Avenue pavement reconstruction, and water quality improvements. Special features of the new Welch Avenue 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. 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.