HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-29-2012 Historic Preservation Commission1
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IOWA CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
City Hall, 410 1?. Washington Street
Emma J Harvat Hall
5:15 p.m.
A) Call to Order
B) Roll Call
C) Public discussion of anything not on the agenda
D) Discussion of the Gateway Project (the elevation of Dubuque Street and the
construction of a new Park Road Bridge) relationship to adjacent historic properties
E) Other
F) Adjournment
CITY OF IOWA CITY
MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 27, 2012
TO: Iowa City Historical Commission
FROM: Melissa Clow, Special Projects Administrator /kA<f-,
RE: Iowa City Gateway
Dubuque 5t Elevation and Park Rd Bridge Reconstruction Project
Dubuque Street serves as the front door to our community and is also our most flood prone
arterial street. Due to its low elevation and proximity to the Iowa River, Dubuque Street is the
first roadway to close due to river flooding. In 1993, the road was closed for more than 60 days
and again for over 30 days in 2008, Locally heavy rainfall also causes flooding and the closure
of the northbound lanes of Dubuque Street almost every year. Dubuque Street carries more
than 25,000 vehicles a day between 1-80, the downtown business district and the University of
Iowa Campus and, is vital for emergency access to Iowa City neighborhoods, 1-80 and points
north. Park Road Bridge was also closed and overtopped in the 2008 flood, creating significant
backwater that caused additional impacts to upstream neighborhoods.
The Iowa City Gateway project is planned to reduce closures of Dubuque Street and Park Road
Bridge due to localized flash flooding and Iowa River flood events and minimize backwater flood
impacts caused by the bridge. Improvements to the corridor will be done using Complete
Streets guidelines, to better accommodate transit, provide multi -use trail connections, furnish
improved safety features for bike and pedestrian traffic and encourage alternate forms of
transportation. This project was identified as a priority project in the FEMA ESF14 Long Term
Recovery Plan. It is also a priority project for the community since it is the only flood recovery
project in the corridor that positively impacts the flood water surface elevation through the
elimination of backwater.
The study area begins on Dubuque Street at Church Street to the south and ends at the 1-80
Interchange to the north. Park Road improvements include reconstruction of the bridge and the
addition of a 3rd lane from the bridge to Holt Avenue. Construction in this area will be adjacent
to Historic properties and a Historic District, prompting the State Historical Preservation Office to
request review and comment by this commission.
I will attend the August 29, 2012 special meeting to present this project and answer any
questions that you may have. Additional project information and status can be found at
www. iowacitygatewaV. orq.
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