Skip To Content

Menu

Veterans Memorial Parkway Extension

Veterans Memorial Parkway Extension
Posted on 12/17/2018
Veterans Memorial Parkway Extension

12/15/18

Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch was joined by Colonel Stephen C. Marr, Garrison Commander, USAG-RIA-Army; Assistant City Administrator/Public Works Director Nicole Gleason; Council members Rich Clewell, Mike Matson, and Kerri Tompkins; former Alderman Barney Barnhill; veterans; neighbors; staff and project contractors yesterday in a ribbon cutting which opened Veterans Memorial Parkway.

Dedicated to our Veterans, the roadway will play a vital role in improving transportation and promoting economic development in our community.

The project took about seven years to complete between budget, design, and construction, starting with work on Utica Ridge Rd, construction of the I-74 Bridge crossover to Utica Ridge, construction of the I-74 bridge crossover to Veterans Memorial Parkway, the extension of Veterans Memorial Parkway between Eastern Ave and Elmore, and other improvements to adjacent roadways and infrastructure.

The city’s total investment in the project is $32 M with $23M in Federal Highway Authority STP grants and State of Iowa’s Rise grant funds, and $9M from City funds.

Finish work in the area will continue through spring, but is not expected to impact travel on this new roadway. Remaining items include: sidewalks, a recreational trail, finish grading, and grass.


 

12/11/18

The wait is almost over! Veterans Memorial Parkway will fully open on Friday, December 14th following a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 4pm (approximately 5:30pm opening).

This is an exciting time for the City as the project not only introduces Davenport’s first roundabout, but a new 3.75 mile roadway connecting Brady St to the city’s eastern limits.

Motorists anxious about driving through the roundabout should keep these 5 basic things in mind:

  1. Slow down as you approach the roundabout and watch for signs to select your lane;
  2. Signal to indicate your turn/entry just as you would at any normal intersection;
  3. Yield to traffic and pedestrians when entering the roundabout, enter when safe;
  4. Stay in your lane until your exit;
  5. Signal to indicate you are exiting, and exit the roundabout.

The project promises to not only alleviate traffic on E 53rd St, but supports and promotes economic development in our community.

With significant value to our community in transportation improvement and economic development benefits, the city found it appropriate to dedicate the roadway to our Veterans who will be recognized during the Ribbon Cutting.

Thank you to affected residents and the community for their patience while this improvement was constructed in our community.


11/30/18

Recent snow and wet weather has delayed the opening of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Jersey Ridge Rd between E 65th St and Elmore Ave.

The contractor cannot proceed with critical items to open the road, such as: pavement marking, signs, and backfilling curbs, until snow has melted and clean, dry pavement can be achieved.

As of this update, weather conditions look favorable for this work to be performed over the next two weeks.

We will keep the public updated on this project’s status as work continues.


11/09/18

The Veterans Memorial Parkway project is nearing completion.  The roundabout at Jersey Ridge and Veterans Memorial should be open by the end of the month.  In this stage of the project paving will be finished, signs and traffic lines installed, and a center turn lane installed on Jersey Ridge south of Veterans Memorial Parkway.  Following the opening of the roadway, additional finish work will continue into the spring of 2019. This work will include:  sidewalks, the recreational trail, finish grading, and grass.

The center turn lane installation will include intermittent closures at Cromwell Circle and E 65th St, where they intersect with Jersey Ridge, while paving is performed.  Affected residents will be advised when paving installation will impact access.

Motorists anxious for the opening, but curious about how the roundabout will work, will enjoy this informational video about driving through a roundabout, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35XgSJ-nSdo

Look for more details on the completion of this project in the coming weeks.  A ribbon cutting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 30th.


09/07/18

Storm sewer work is wrapping up and pavement work on the Veterans Memorial Parkway roundabout at Jersey Ridge Rd has begun.  Beginning, Monday, September 10th, lane reductions on Jersey Ridge Rd between Cromwell Circle and E 65th St will go into place in addition to the current closure of the intersection. The lane reductions are necessary for widening, shoulder removal, and installation of a center turn lane.

The Veterans Memorial Parkway and Jersey Ridge intersection is estimated to remain closed into November.  The lane reductions involved in widening are estimated to remain in place through October.

The detour remains Eastern Ave, to E 53rd St, to Elmore Ave.

As a reminder, the Jersey Ridge Rd overpass at I-80 closed for repairs following a semi strike to the overpass.  The IDOT repairs to the overpass will be complete by the end of September 2018.


06/08/18

Storm sewer and pavement work on Veterans Memorial Parkway between Jersey Ridge Rd and Elmore Ave is progressing.  Beginning, Tuesday, June 12th, work will move - closing the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Jersey Ridge Rd.  The intersection will be closed for approximately 4 months (October) while stormwater and pavement work is performed. 

The detour for the closure will be Eastern Ave, to E 53rd St, to Elmore Ave.

As a reminder, the Jersey Ridge Rd overpass at I-80 closed for repairs following a semi strike to the overpass.  The IDOT repairs to the overpass will be complete by the end of October 2018.

05/11/18

Jersey Ridge Rd between Cromwell Circle and Elmore Ave is being reduced to one lane of traffic during the daytime for installation of a new storm sewer as part of the project that extends Veterans Memorial Parkway between Elmore Av and Jersey Ridge Rd.

During the daytime reduction to one lane, two-way travel will be permitted using “Stop, Please Alternate” traffic control.  Motorist should expect delays, especially during peak travel hours.  Non-local traffic is encouraged to seek an alternate route.

The daytime lane reduction is necessary for construction equipment access and worker safety.

The new storm sewer construction should be complete by mid-June.  Once complete, work will move to the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Jersey Ridge.  When this occurs, the intersection will be fully closed and a detour placed for approximately 3 months.

Work on Phase 2, Veterans Memorial Parkway construction between Elmore and Jersey Ridge continues while work on Phase 3, as noted above, is completed.  All work is estimated to be complete in the fall of 2018.


11/22/17

Beginning this afternoon, Wednesday, November 22nd, Veterans Memorial Parkway will be open to traffic between Utica Ridge Rd and Elmore Ave.

Be aware of, and observe, stop signs that have been installed as a temporary traffic control measure.  Traffic signals will be installed at the intersections of Veterans Memorial and Utica Ridge Rd, and at Veterans Memorial and Elmore Ave, in the spring of 2018.

Work on Stage 2, which extends Veterans Memorial from Elmore Ave to Jersey Ridge Rd, will continue as long as weather permits this year, and will pick back up in the spring of 2018.

09/22/17

Work to extend Veterans Memorial Parkway from Jersey Ridge Road to Utica Ridge Road is continuing.

This week construction of a temporary roadway from Jersey Ridge Rd to the Kahl Home began.  The road will provide access to the facility while construction of Veteran’s Memorial Parkway continues between Jersey Ridge Rd and Elmore Ave. 

Staff anticipates the pavement between Elmore and the I-74 overpass will be open to traffic this Fall; pavement between the I-74 overpass and Utica Ridge Rd will remain closed until this is completed.  

Look for additional updates in the coming weeks as work progresses on Stage 1 and 2, and access points change. ​

08/04/17

Work to extend Veterans Memorial Parkway to Utica Ridge Road is progressing.

Beginning Monday, August 7th, construction of Stage 1 will begin. In this stage, traffic signals will be installed at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Elmore, and the road will be constructed from Elmore to the I-74 overpass.  The Elmore intersection will remain open to traffic during construction.  Staff anticipates this stage will be complete this Fall.

Preliminary work on Stage 2 will occur simultaneously with Stage 1.  This stage will extend Veterans Memorial Parkway between Elmore Ave and Jersey Ridge Rd.  Staff anticipates work on this stage will not be complete until late Spring of 2018, pending weather and subsurface soil conditions.

The final stage of this project will install an intersection at Veterans Memorial Parkway and Jersey Ridge Rd. 

Staff anticipates all work under this project will be complete by Fall of 2018.