Central Avenue Reconstruction_Local Businesses UpdateMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Central Avenue
DATE: June 16, 2011
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos and Public Information Officer Randy Gehl will provide a
brief update to the City Council on actions taken related to Central Avenue business
concerns.
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Greg Doeden, Civil Engineer II
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
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Michael C. Van Milligen
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Mike Van Milligen
FROM: Greg Doeden
DATE: June 15, 2011
SUBJECT: Additions made to the Detour Signage for Businesses & Public Information
Campaign and Schedule Up -date for the Central Avenue Re- surfacing
Project from 21 to 32 Street
DETOUR SIGNAGE:
PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN:
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ENTRANCE POINTS: Both the north and south entrance points to the work
zone currently have "Road Closed to Through Traffic" signs and detour arrows. After
reviewing the existing signage and discussions with Engineering staff and Police staff, it
was decided to add signs stating, "Central Avenue Businesses Accessible from Jackson
St. Detour" to the "Road Closed to Through Traffic" sign locations at both ends of the
project corridor. These signs were installed on Friday, June 10.
SIDE ACCESS STREETS: There are currently directional signs listing some Central
Avenue businesses at the intersections of the side streets (20 through 32 Streets)
and Jackson Street (the detour route) to highlight their access points. (These signs
were added as these businesses requested them. Not every business on Central is
included on a sign on Jackson Street.)
Based on conversations Engineering staff had with business owners and patrons this
week, there is a perception that parking is not allowed on Central. To address this
issue, signs stating "Parking Allowed on Central" are placed on each of these side
access streets just west of White Street so that motorists who leave the detour route to
access these businesses see them before they reach the barricades on Central and
realize they can access Central and park there. These signs were installed on Friday,
June 10.
The Cable TV Division has created a one - minute video spot reminding residents that
Central Avenue businesses are open and accessible and explaining how to legally
access businesses in the corridor. The spot will begin airing on Channel 8 on Friday,
June 10, and will air regularly until the project is completed. Specifically, it will run
approximately 20 times per day for the first week and then 10 -12 times per day through
July, and less frequently in August.
A 30- second radio public service announcement (PSA) was recorded and provided to
Radio Dubuque (KDTH, KATF, WVRE, KGRR), Cumulus Broadcasting (KLYV, WDBQ,
WJOD, KXGE), and QueenB Radio (WGLR, WPVL, KIYX). The PSA reminds listeners
that Central Avenue businesses are open and accessible and explains how to access
them. The PSAs were submitted to the radio stations on Thursday, June 9. QueenB
has already responded and indicated they will air it on all five of their broadcast stations
and three streaming stations through July.
A single -page insert was created briefly describing the project, encouraging patronage
of Central Avenue businesses in the project area, and explaining how to best access
the area. This insert will be mailed with the June cycle of City utility bills, which runs
from June 15 through July 6 and reaches approximately 22,500 utility customers. This
mailing will go out in four groups, one per week beginning Wednesday, June 15.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
The City was contacted by Greg Birkett with the Dubuque Advertiser last week and
notified that they plan to include a two -page spread in this week's publication dedicated
to promoting the businesses impacted by the construction project. They are doing this
free of charge. At Greg's request, the City provided a short message explaining how
residents should access businesses within the corridor.
The City also contacted staff at the Chamber of Commerce and Washington
Neighborhood Development Corporation to solicit their suggestions on how their
organizations might assist us in our efforts to lessen the impact of this project on the
businesses within the corridor.
PROJECT SCHEDULE:
The following is a schedule up -date for the project:
➢ Opening Central Avenue from 22 to 24 Street was accomplished on
Wednesday, June 15th.
➢ The contractor plans on starting the milling operation on Wednesday, June 29
on the southbound lane and leave the northbound lane open with parking. The
milling operation will be 2 -4 days with concrete base inspection / replacement
following behind. After concrete base repair a leveling course of asphalt
pavement will be placed and southbound traffic will run on the southbound lane.
The contractor will perform the same operations on the northbound lane.
➢ The contractor will then place the final 3- inches of asphalt pavement in phases
paving southbound lane with parking and then northbound lane with parking.
➢ The completion date for this project is scheduled for Friday, September 2, 2011.
*(Schedule can change based on weather conditions.)
Central Avenue is
Open for Business
Central Avenue businesses are open and
accessible throughout the Central Avenue
street and infrastructure improvement project
this summer.
• Central Avenue is closed to truck traffic and
through traffic (vehicles that are not stopping
in the construction zone).
• Drivers are allowed to take the SHORTEST
route possible to reach a business on Central
Avenue. When possible, take the detour route
(Jackson Street) and then use the side access
streets to access Central Avenue close to your
destination.
• Parking is allowed on Central Avenue, except
where prohibited.
• As various aspects of the project are
completed in the corridor, details of the
detours and access will change.
• For your safety and the safety of those
working on the project, please obey all project
signage.
• If you need an accommodation due to a
disability, please contact the City Engineering
Department.
City staff, project contractors, and utility providers are striving to complete the
project as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible while minimizing the impact
to businesses and residents. The cooperation of the businesses and residents
affected by this public improvement project is greatly appreciated.
For more information, call 563.589.4270 or email engineer @cityofdubuque.org.
Central Avenue
businesses located in
the construction zone
(20th to 32nd Streets):
Advance Auto Parts
Advance Trophy
A Hair Ahead Salon
Auto Ranch
Big A Auto Parts
BP
Brickhouse Tattoo
Central True Value
Domino's
Dubuque Pawn
Ender's Diagnostic Center
Fagan's Shoe Repair and Hobbies
Family Dollar Store
Family Mart & Deli
Hahn Roofing
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi