Shoulder work begins on Highway 22 from Kalona to Riverside

Drivers along Highway 22 between Kalona and Riverside will need to get used to lane closures and pilot cars for the foreseeable future.

Work began on a shoulder paving project Wednesday on the stretch between the two cities.

Iowa Department of Transportation District 6 Planner Hector Torres-Cacho said that the project will run from Ninth Street in Kalona to Boise Street in Riverside.

“Through traffic will be maintained on the project at all times,” Torres-Cacho said. “The campground entrance near 12th Street is to remain open at all times, and there are notes in the contract about the special events occurring during June in Kalona and Riverside.

“Lane closure will be in place during the day and shoulder closures during the night. Flaggers will be directing traffic.”

The shoulders from Ninth Street in Kalona to about one mile east of Redwood Avenue will be paved to a 10-foot width.

Torres-Cacho said the 10-foot width takes buggy use into consideration.

The remainder of the shoulders to Boise Street in Riverside will be four-foot-wide hot mix asphalt.

Torres-Cacho added that the project includes work on subdrains, centerline Portland cement concrete rumble strips, shoulder hot mix asphalt rumble strips and painted pavement.

“Looking at the current construction schedule, the contractor has paved shoulder work in May and July, and pavement marking possibly late August or early September,” Torres-Cacho said.

Also included in the project is the removal of the existing bridge over Bulgers Run.

The bridge will be replaced with a twin 12-foot-by-12-foot-by 114-foot precast reinforced concrete box culvert.

“Construction for the entire project is anticipated to be completed mid-September, weather and other conditions permitting,” Torres-Cacho said.