City meets with residents to discuss Union Drive reconstruction

Jeff and Jodi Stark, of Newton, have lived in their home along Union Drive since the mid-1980s, and they can’t hardly remember a time when the road was ever in good shape. Despite an asphalt overlay and a reduction in the speed limit over the years, the road has been, at least, problematic, or, at most, dangerous.

Which is why when Jodi heard the road was approved for reconstruction, the first word that came out of her mouth was: “Finally!”

The Starks and other Newton residents can breathe a sigh a relief knowing a contractor has been secured to reconstruct Union Drive for more than $4.2 million. Reilly Construction Co., of Ossian, is expected to start by April 3. City staff even met with residents living along the road on March 2 for an open house.

The council chambers was filled with locals who were concerned what would happen to their properties and the new 27-foot-wide roadway.

In addition to the timeline of the reconstruction, the Starks wanted to know more about the speed limit changes. Currently, vehicles are allowed to drive 35 mph on Union Drive. City staff confirmed the completed street will have new signs that decrease the speed limit to 25 mph, which made Jeff and Jodi happy.

“There was an accident on Super Bowl Sunday where a gentleman was on his motorcycle, and because it’s so rough he went over on the gravel. He got a compound fracture in his left arm and they had to Life Flight him out of there,” Jodi said. “It really is dangerous. It’s really, really narrow.”

Jeff added, “When they put that blacktop on top of the old concrete road, of course the edging was real rough. But it’s so narrow that you have to run the trucks on that crumbling edge. And that’s probably the rumble, rumble, rumble we hear when they drive by. It’s probably the worst road in Newton.”

Newton Public Works Director Joe Grife said the goal of the open house was to get the word out to the people most affected by the reconstruction. No one wants to be caught by surprise, he said, and it is always better to let people now what is happening ahead of time. It also gave staff a chance to show the detours.

Road closures will go into effect on April 3. Union Drive will be closed between North Fourth Avenue West and North 15th Avenue West. However, a section directly south of North 15th Avenue West will be open for property owners only as there will not be an outlet south of North 15th Avenue West.

Union Drive has been a hot topic for decades, and city staff has more than received its fair share of comments about the road. With the project now in sight, there is still some apprehension from residents. Grife expected there would be some growing pains, but he left the open house feeling people were happy.

It is possible some residents living along Union Drive will be blocked, but Grife said the city will do everything it can to accommodate those who would be effected. Communications with residents will be constant, and staff took contact information at the open house to better inform those people.

“We’ll do door hangers, too, and have an email list and put stuff out on social media,” Grife said. “There will be constant updates.”

Apart from the complete road reconstruction, the project is also making improvements to storm sewer, water main and sanitary sewer.

Work schedules for contractors are largely controlled by the weather, so a firm timeline for the phased-in project is not possible. But city staff are hopeful the preliminary estimated end date is Nov. 20, which would mark the end of the construction season.

“We’re eager to get started,” Grife said.