Much of Second Avenue downtown Cedar Rapids to reopen to two-way traffic

CEDAR RAPIDS - On Monday, the majority of Second Avenue SE in downtown Cedar Rapids will fully reopen as a two-way street.

The transition comes after the two-week milling and paving of Second Avenue SE between First Street SE and Seventh Street SE.

Second Avenue SE will remain temporarily a one-way road between Third and Fourth streets, to allow for the installation of railroad safety arms and gates.

The Union Pacific Railroad, in cooperation with the city, is expected to begin gate installation later this month.

The Second Avenue SE conversion project is the latest in efforts to convert downtown streets from one-way to two-way traffic.

'This project is a huge step in getting us closer to a consistent, two-way network throughout our downtown and surrounding districts,” City Engineer Nate Kampman said in a Friday news release. 'Our goal is to remove the inconsistent layout and create a user-friendly, two-way network on every street downtown. Once complete, the two-way street configuration will be able to accommodate traffic levels in the downtown, while lowering motorists' speed and enhancing pedestrian safety.”

Later this year, crews will convert Fourth and Fifth avenues SE between Third and Fifth streets SE to two-way traffic.

l Comments: (319) 398-8309; mitchell.schmidt@thegazette.com