T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY
While electronic signs, pylons and barrels remain at or near the South Center Street-East Anson Street intersection, all will soon be a thing of the past as crews work to finish the $3.1-million Highway 14 Reconstruction project next week weather permitting.

A $3.1 million dollar street and highway improvement project that has impacted some of Marshalltown’s busiest intersections is coming to an end soon.

Iowa Department of Transportation Resident Construction Engineer Dustin Skogerboe said work on Highway 14 reconstruction will be complete next week or the week of Oct. 28.

He cautioned weather is a factor.

“It is supposed to rain this weekend,” he said. “But I expect crews will be out collecting signs and other related project items soon.”

Skogerboe had previously estimated Friday as a completion date.

The Iowa DOT awarded bids to contractors for pavement patching and resurfacing project from Iowa Avenue to near the Iowa River bridge.

That meant South Center Street was a major work in progress for much of the summer into this fall.

Bright orange barrels, cones and electronic signs still line much of the street highway as crews continue working.

While street and highway work appears to be complete, some contractors are still installing related sidewalks and curb and gutter, especially near the South Third Avenue and East Anson Street intersection.

Proximity to the center of Marshalltown was one of many factors which led a citizens committee to recommend the site at 909 S. Second St for the new joint police and fire facility, which opened Aug. 30.

Consequently, response time to South Center Street is significantly less than when the police department was at 22 N. Center St. and fire department at 107 S. First Ave.

Resident David Hicks said Highway 14/South Center is a main thoroughfare used by him going to and from work.

He is executive director of the local Youth and Shelter Services located downtown.

“That street and highway carries a great deal of traffic and experiences a lot of wear and tear,” he said. “I am pleased IDOT decided to address those issues now, instead of waiting until later. Overall, I thing the project has moved along at an acceptable pace. I am grateful for the care and concern displayed by the contractors who have had to deal with oncoming traffic, riain, and other issues. However, I am like many residents. We are looking forward to the completion, so we can really appreciate the smooth new surface. I am convinced it will be worth the wait. Sometimes we have to endure ‘bumps in the road’ to reach the finish line.’

Fellow resident Jay Carollo echoed Hicks’ remarks.

Carollo said he has been recovering from an accident and only recently resumed driving.

“I will be anxious to see the project completed,” he said. “I understand some of the delays have been necessary … the new surface is a dramatic improvement over the old one.