The 4th Street SW corridor is a busy north/south thoroughfare in the heart of the Waverly community. This busy stretch provides access to the bustling business district and the famous Wartburg College campus. Much of the infrastructure along the route, including the pavement, storm and sanitary sewers, and water mains, had reached the end of its useful life and needed replacing.
City leaders enlisted the Snyder & Associates team to develop a design for reconstructing a nearly one-half-mile section of 4th Street SW along with all underground infrastructure. While planning was underway for this significant project, the city also tasked our team with creating plans for reconstructing a one-block section of nearby 10th Street SW, extending from 2nd Avenue SW to W. Bremer Avenue.
Box Culvert Installation Improves Area Stormwater Drainage
The construction crew is in the process of forming and constructing the twin cast-in-place box culvert.
Because the corridor is very flat, our team designed a vertical roadway profile to eliminate stormwater drainage issues. Additionally, the structural engineers from our subsidiary, Shuck-Britson, designed a massive twin box culvert that extends under the roadway, allowing water from the golf course to flow under 4th Street SW and empties into the Dry Run Creek near 1st Street SW.
Our team coordinated with private utilities, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), and the public to provide information about the project and obtain the necessary permits and approvals. We also coordinated public outreach efforts to communicate the goals and construction plans with all area stakeholders. ADA-Compliant pedestrian accommodations were added throughout the project zone to ensure all areas met the current code.
During construction, our team monitored numerous historical buildings along the 4th Street SW corridor to ensure that vibrations from the heavy machinery did not adversely affect the foundations or structural integrity of the buildings. We also incorporated and maintained a strategic access plan during the project to provide safe ingress and egress for residents and businesses impacted by the construction. This included coordinating traffic detours with the Iowa DOT and city officials.
10th Street SW Improvements Replace Nearly Ninety-Year-Old Infrastructure
While smaller in scale, the reconstruction efforts on 10th Street SW from 2nd Avenue SW to W. Bremer Avenue involved replacing the sanitary sewer main, water main, storm sewer, and roadway. The replaced water and sanitary sewer main was believed to date back to around 1938. A new sidewalk was constructed along the west side of the street to provide safer access for area residents.
The major reconstruction project of the 4th Street SW corridor and the one-block section of 10th Street SW has significantly improved the Waverly community’s infrastructure and traffic flow. As city leaders continue to focus on corridor improvements, drivers will continue to benefit from reduced travel times, less pollution, and safer commutes. The Snyder & Associates team will continue to assist the city in creating a better quality of life for residents.
