7th Avenue in Marion to Close For Construction of Pedestrian Bridge

The betterment of Marion continues with another inconvenience for drivers over the next several weeks.

The City of Marion has announced that Marion Boulevard will be closing at 2nd Street this week so that Peterson Contractors can install the girders for what will be a flashy new pedestrian bridge over 7th Avenue/Marion Boulevard. The photo above shows ongoing work along the roadway last Monday, November 8.

The closure of 7th Avenue at 2nd Street is scheduled to begin this Thursday, November 18. The roadway could be closed for up to three weeks. During that time, traffic traveling westbound will be detoured to 8th Avenue while eastbound traffic will be detoured around the closure on 6th Avenue. The city says "delays are expected and alternate routes are encouraged."

The actual installation of the pedestrian bridge is phase four of 3.5 miles of work on the CeMar Trail. When complete, the trail will connect the downtown areas of both Cedar Rapids and Marion. The City of Marion matched a grant from the Federal Surface Transportation Program to make the pedestrian bridge possible.

Above is an artist rendering of the bridge, with artistry on the towers created by local artist Cara Briggs Farmer. The towers will be added after final bridge approval from the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Cara Briggs Farmer has public works of art around eastern Iowa, including in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Marion. You can see those here.