Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Completion of Northwest 62nd Avenue Improvements

If the past few weeks wasn't an indication, the four roundabouts on Northwest 62nd Avenue are officially open for business.

Monday afternoon, nearly 50 Johnston residents, city officials and business members attended a ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of construction improvements to Northwest 62nd Avenue.

The first two roundabouts opened Sept. 22. The final two roundabouts followed suit a few weeks later.

"Some of us were initially skeptical," Johnston Mayor Paula Dierenfeld said during the ceremony. "We've been convinced they are more effective than stoplights. It's amazing to see how well traffic flows from 86th Street to Pioneer Parkway."

Special guests included Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa director of transportation Paul Trombino.

"Today is a great example of state government working with local government and businesses," Branstad said of work between Johnston, the state DOT and Pioneer.

The governor said the additions of the roundabouts have proven to be a safe use of the road.

Trombino, who lives in Johnston, said the roundabouts have been beneficial.

"To see this project come to life is really tremendous," he said. "The roundabouts move traffic better than anything."

Dierenfeld told the audience that the project has not only been received well by many residents, but by construction peers, as well.

The project was named a runner-up for 2013 Bentley Be Inspired Awards, a global program encompassing all types of infrastructure projects.

The four roundabouts will be located at the new Pioneer Beaver Creek entrance located just west of Beaver Creek and at South Drive, the Pioneer Carver entrance and Pioneer Parkway.

The project included widening Northwest 62nd Avenue from Northwest 86th Street to Meadow Crest Drive from a single lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction. A second bridge was constructed just north of the existing bridge over Beaver Creek to accommodate two additional westbound lanes, as well as a multi-use trail.

Construction on Northwest 62nd Avenue began Sept. 19, 2011. While the project comes with an estimated $7 million price tag, the city will pay only a fraction of the cost; a state grant will cover $6.3 million.

For other Northwest 62nd Avenue Construction news see these stories:

• Northwest 62nd Avenue Constrution Creates Commute Challenge
• Wallace Preschoolers Learn about Johnston's Ongoing Road Construction
• Northwest 62nd Avenue Constrution Creates Commute Challenge