Construction work in full swing in Mason City on Highway 122

MASON CITY – Construction work is in full swing in Mason City on Highway 122.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is currently in the process of reconstructing the westbound lanes (5^th Street SW) this year and will not be working on the eastbound lanes (6^th Street SW) until next year.  This winter, traffic will return back to pre-construction condition, the Iowa DOT tells NIT.

“When we get to 6^th Street next year, the eastbound lanes will be closed and we’ll do the work in front of your properties.  The work will involve storm sewer, sidewalks, driveway, and road reconstruction,” a DOT spokesman says,

Reconstruction started last week of Highway 122/5th Street South between South Monroe Avenue and South Carolina Avenue. With the closure of Hwy 122/5th Street South, westbound traffic is now directed to Hwy 122/6th Street South.  A City officials says that dditional signage, traffic signals and pavement markings have been placed on Hwy122/6th Street South to accommodate both eastbound and westbound traffic.

The southbound lanes of South Monroe Avenue at the intersection of Hwy 122 have been reduced from three lanes to two lanes. The southbound left turn only lane was eliminated because of the anticipated work zone barricade repositioning that will be needed to accommodate pavement removals near this intersection.

Additional traffic control changes are planned to help eliminate congestion at this intersection. The city is looking at options for repositioning signal head(s) and making adjustments with the timing and or phasing of the signals at this intersection. The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) will add additional lane designation signage and pavement markings for southbound Monroe Avenue traffic. Dashed pavement marking lines will also be added for westbound Hwy 122 traffic to help direct drivers from the construction zone to normal westbound driving lanes.

The IDOT will also be adding dashed lane designation lines for eastbound Hwy 122/6th Street South at the new bypass pavement as well as additional signing representing two-way head to head traffic throughout the limits of the project.

The city and IDOT will continue to monitor the work zone traffic control throughout the corridor and make the needed adjustments as the project progresses. Please allow for extra travel time and use cautions when driving through a work zone.

According to Mason City Chief of Police Jeff Brinkley, “we had six crashes on/along Highway 122 since April 15,” through Wednesday of this week.

Questions may be directed to the Mason City Engineering Department by calling 641-421-3605 or the Iowa Department of Transportation at 641-422-1684.