Update Posted March 2, 2020:
County Home Road will soon be under construction from N Center Point Road to the bridge over Indian Creek 1/2 mile west of Highway 13. Construction includes concrete paving, the addition of right and left turn lanes, and single lane roundabouts at the C Ave Ext and Alburnett Road intersections.
The project was let on February 18, 2020 and the project was awarded to Horsfield Construction, Inc. of Epworth, Iowa for a cost of $7,934,357.90. As per the contract, the late start date for this project is April 6, 2020. That requires the contractor to start on or before April 6. Once the contractor starts they have 240 working days to complete the entire project. Working days are days in which the contractor can reasonably work. Weekends and days with bad weather do not count toward the 240 allowable working days.
Project improvements include designated right and left turn lanes and roundabouts. Roundabouts were chosen at C Ave Ext and Alburnett Road for increased safety and traffic flow. In the correct location, roundabouts have been proven safer and more efficient than other types of intersections. They can provide lasting benefits and value in many ways. They are often safer, more efficient, less costly, and more aesthetically appealing than conventional intersection designs.
Turn lanes will be constructed at each intersection, excluding C Ave Ext and Alburnett Road. Designated turn lanes will allow traffic to safely deaccelerate without impeding through traffic. They remove turning vehicles from the mainline which provides shelter and time. Drivers may be more selective and wait for a safer gap in opposing traffic. Studies have shown turn lanes can reduce rear end and right angle crashes.
The project will be completed in phases in order to minimize the effect on local traffic. Some sections of County Home Road will remain open as other sections are under construction. The location of the closures will change throughout the project. Through traffic will not be able to use County Home Road to get between N Center Point Road and Highway 13. A detour utilizing I-380, Highway 100, and Highway 13, will be posted.
Stay up to date on the progress of this project by signing up for notifications at LinnCounty.org/NotifyMe. Updates via email or text will be sent once work has started and as work progresses.
Posted November 13, 2019:
In 2020, County Home Road will be under construction from N Center Point Road to the bridge over Indian Creek, 1/2 mile west of Highway 13. Construction includes concrete paving, the addition of right and left turn lanes, and roundabouts at the C Ave Ext and Alburnett Road intersections.
Roundabouts were chosen at these intersections for increased safety and traffic flow. By keeping traffic moving one-way in a counterclockwise direction, there are fewer conflict points and traffic flows smoothly. Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that roundabouts provide a 90% reduction in fatal crashes and 76% reduction in injury crashes. The two roundabouts are designed to accommodate semis and agriculture equipment. Both roundabouts will be single lane and have a 150’ diameter, which is similar to the size of Marion’s roundabout at Alburnett Road and Tower Terrace Road. For additional information on roundabouts please visit https://iowadot.gov/traffic/roundabouts/.
The project is scheduled for letting on February 18, 2020. Construction is anticipated to start in May and end in October. The project will be completed in phases in order to minimize the effect on local traffic. Some sections of County Home Road will remain open as other sections are under construction. The location of the closures will change throughout the project. Through traffic will not be able to use County Home Road to get between N Center Point Road and Highway 13. A detour, utilizing I-380, Highway 100 and Highway 13, will be posted.
Due to the impact of this project, please go to LinnCounty.org and select “Get Notified” to receive project updates. Updates via email or text will be sent once work has started. You will need to create a free account for this service and select for which projects you would like to receive notifications.