Muscatine

My nomination for "Street most in need of repair" in our town goes to Cedar Street, between Parham and House.  It's literally falling apart.  Are there plans to deal with this, along with all of the other work that's going on along this stretch?

Journal; Nov 02, 2011:

Next year’s moving of utility lines won’t require closing Cedar Street, but the paving work in 2013 — and perhaps beyond — will. The primary detour routes will be Mulberry Avenue to the north and Fulliam Avenue to the south.

The city’s Public Works department asked the City Council this summer to widen the intersection at Fulliam Avenue and Houser Street in anticipation of the increased traffic during construction, but the City Council, citing cost considerations, declined.

“I see very heavy traffic, and the potential for conflicts” at the intersection during the third phase in 2013, Lutz said.  

When it’s done, Cedar Street from Houser to Parham streets will be three lanes wide, with a turning lane down the center. It’ll also sport sidewalks to accommodate students walking to school, joggers and other pedestrians along what has become a main Muscatine arterial.

In my opiniom, the city had better come up with a better plan for detouring traffic than simply rerouting on Fulliam and Mulberry.   There is simply no way those two streets can handle the traffic currently using Cedar.  Already, these routes are gridlocked during the morning commute and afternoon school dismissals.  Anyone who drives these streets at those times of day needs alot of patience and a forgiving attitude toward the less than courteous drivers hell bent on getting to work or kids to school. 

BB....thanks for the information.  It's interesting that Mulberry would be considered a detour route, given its bad condition and unsafe, or non-existent shoulder areas near the bypass.