T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM Two electronic signs signal drivers on State Street about the upcoming construction, which begins Sunday. The work is expected to be completed by Aug. 31.

Marshalltown residents are asked to be patient as more State Street construction is scheduled to begin on Sunday and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31.

Public Works Director Heather Thomas said the new project is necessary because there are utilities in need under the pavement.

“There is really not a better option,” she said. “We need access to those utilities. I know it is an inconvenience, but we are fortunate to have great access to side streets and alleys.”

Fortunately, Thomas said businesses close to the construction will not need to shut down. There will be access to Public Parking Lot J and Golden Land Grocery through the alley using the North First Avenue entrance.

Residents will be able to access Maria’s Tacos through the alley using the entrance from North First Street.

Thomas also said there might be some congestion during the project as residents will have to park farther away from the impacted businesses.

“But I am confident when the construction is done, there will be a better product for everyone,” she said.

The project is split into six stages.

• Stage A will stretch from North First Avenue to almost North First Street, and will include utilities, sidewalks, landscaping and the street. It is slated to begin Sunday and will be completed Aug. 10. During Stage A, the sidewalk and access to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Marshalltown City Hall will remain open as long as possible. A gravel path will be available with a warning to “Use at your own risk” between Public Parking Lot T and the Park & Recreation entrance to city hall;

• Stage B encompasses the intersection of State and North Second streets, but will only involve sidewalks and landscaping. It is scheduled to begin April 1 and last until April 14;

• Stage C runs from North Second to North Third streets and involves sidewalks and landscaping. The timeline of this stage is from April 1 to May 31;

• Stage D is the intersection of State and North First streets. The construction will extend a little beyond the intersection in both directions of State, and includes utilities, sidewalks, landscaping and the street. Work is expected to run from April 15 to Aug. 10;

• Stage E will be sidewalk and landscaping work and extends between North First and Second streets. Work will last from April 15 to June 15;

• Stage F involves sidewalks and landscaping at the intersection of State and North Third streets. The timeline for this stage is slated to begin Aug. 11 and last until Aug. 31.

The previous State Street project, which stretched from First to Third avenues, closed the road down from March 2023 to December.

The next major street project slated for the City of Marshalltown, Thomas said, will be similar to the recent downtown construction. It will occur on East Main Street, from Center Street to Third Avenue.

“It will be similar to the State Street reconstruction project,” she said. “The work is in design, and it is anticipated to start construction in 2025.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.