Portion of 1st Avenue in Cedar Rapids To Close For Bridge Removal

A bridge that's been part of Cedar Rapids' landscape for four decades is coming down later this week.

One of the many things that were damaged across the city during last year's derecho was the pedestrian bridge at 1st Avenue and 27th Street East. The bridge, which the city says was built in 1981 and is not ADA-compliant, is being removed. The City of Cedar Rapids has announced that 1st Avenue at 27th Street will be closed from 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 31 through 6 a.m. Thursday, April 1 so it can be taken down.

The plan to remove the bridge has been in the works for years. Construction continues on a new pedestrian underpass across 1st Avenue, between 29th Street and 32nd Street. According to a media release from the city, it will have "continuous LED lighting and will serve as a safe and ADA-accessible route across 1st Avenue." The pedestrian underpass is expected to open later this year.

The intersection of 1st Avenue East and 27th Street will see additional changes in 2021. Anyone who travels that portion of 1st Avenue knows it's a dangerous intersection. This year, it's being realigned to make it safer and new traffic lights are also being installed. Pedestrian-friendly traffic signals are being put in at that intersection, as well as at 1st Avenue and 29th Street and 1st Avenue and 32nd Street. Sidewalk ramps that are ADA-compliant are being installed, and sidewalk repairs will be completed.

Work originally started on 1st Avenue between 27th Street and 40th Street in 2014. This is the year that all of the improvements on that portion of this major city thoroughfare are scheduled to finally be completed.