2023 TRANSPORTATION AWARDSThe 2023 ACEC/Iowa Engineering Excellence Awards winning projects in the Transportation Category:Transportation Grand Place Award (1st Place in Category)
Firm: AECOM Technical Services Constructed in 1961, University Avenue was originally designated as U.S. 218 and served as the only major route between Cedar Falls and Waterloo. In the mid-1980s, the Iowa DOT constructed a new 6-lane freeway north of University Avenue, designating this new highway as U.S. 218. The existing University Avenue remained a state highway, redesignated as IA 934. In this same timeframe, Greenhill Road, a new 4-lane arterial street, was constructed approximately 1 mile south of University Avenue. Due to the addition of these new alternate routes, there was a shift in travel patterns and a decrease in traffic usage along University Avenue. These changes have resulted in a gradual decline in the traffic volumes and have negatively affected the economic vitality of the corridor, with an increase in vacant properties for sale or for lease. In 2016, the ownership of University Avenue was transferred to the City of Waterloo through a Transfer of Jurisdiction (TJ) process. This transfer gave the City of Waterloo full control over the corridor, as well as responsibility for the ongoing costs for maintenance and operation of the roadway. Because the existing roadway was in poor condition, the Iowa DOT provided the City with a one-time payment of $28 Million to assist with the reconstruction and redevelopment of the roadway. The new 4-lane roadway has been constructed in 3 phases, with a total project cost of approximately $38.3 million. The first two phases of the project were approximately a combined 2 miles in length and were staged to maintain through traffic and access to adjacent businesses at all times. The third phase was approximately 1 mile in length and included a 2-lane roundabout, bridge enhancements at Greenhill Road and Black Hawk Creek, a new pedestrian underpass, floodgate repairs, and similar “Complete Street” elements as constructed in the first two phases.
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