This Week's Uptown Marion Improvements

Uptown Marion is getting prettified so fast it's hard to take notice of what's been done since you last noticed.

That's why we've provided this handy guide for all the recent achievements made this week on the Central Corridor Project.

By we, I mean Anderson Bogart and the City of Marion.

Paving Continues Down the Corridor 

Less than two weeks after closing the 12^th Street intersection, new paving is already underway. On Tuesday, crews poured the first sections of concrete. Intersection paving will continue over the next two to three weeks. Once the 12^th Street intersection is complete and opened to traffic, contractors will be allowed to begin work in the 13^th Street intersection. 13^th Street is the final intersection that will be rebuilt as part of the current project (Phase 1). 

Pavement removal and storm sewer installation was completed this week in the 1200 block, adjacent to Marion City Hall. A full truck load of steel rail and wood ties were uncovered and removed from the old railroad alignment in this block.  Over the next week, sub-grade preparation and placement of sub-base rock will be completed. 

Crews with Culver's Landscaping completed the street brick in the 1000 block this week. On Monday, asphalt was placed in the 1100 block behind the Marion Square Plaza and brick installation is now underway. The new handicap accessible ramp in the southeast corner of Marion City Park was poured on Monday. All sidewalks and other ramps near the 11^th Street intersection are also now complete. Handrail fabrication has begun and is expected to be installed within the next month. 

The first street lights were installed this week in the 900 and 1000 blocks. Light installation in these blocks should be completed over the next week. All of the fixtures, excluding the 10^th Street intersection, feature LED lights. The two lights on each pole are powered with no more than a combined 150 watts. This will greatly reduce the city's long term energy costs in the project area. Activation of the lights is pending final hookup by Alliant Energy. 

Contractors have used approximately 92 of the allowed 100 working days. Project work will not be complete within the contract time. Liquidated damages will be assessed for time to complete the work in excess of the specified limits.