Mount Vernon Road SE Improvements to Resume March 11

Starting Monday, March 11, improvement projects will resume along Mount Vernon Road SE.

This year’s work on Mount Vernon Road will include two projects: the Paving for Progress project, which began work last year and stretches from 14th to 20th Street; and the Mount Vernon Road SE/8th Avenue reconstruction project, which spans from 8th to 14th Street and includes construction of a roundabout at the 10th Street intersection.

For the Mount Vernon Road SE from 14th Street to 20th Street Paving for Progress project:

• This year’s utility and roadway improvements will focus on the area from 17th Street SE to 20th Street.
• Traffic impacts will begin on Monday, March 11, with the center lanes closed and traffic running in the outside lanes between 17th and 20th Streets.
• Multiple lane shifts will occur throughout construction. Notification will be provided with each change.
• One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times.
• The project is expected to be complete later this year.

This year’s project will compete improvements that began along Mount Vernon Road SE last year, including pavement widening, raised medians with aesthetic improvements, new sidewalk and existing sidewalk repairs; sidewalk ramps; an asphalt overlay; storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and water improvements; traffic signal upgrades; and traffic-safety alterations to the 19th Street intersection. The portion between 14th and 17th Streets was completed last year.

For the Mount Vernon Road SE/8th Avenue Reconstruction Project:

• This project spans from 8th Street SE to 14th Street.
• Traffic impacts will begin on Monday, March 18.
• One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times.
• Multiple lane shifts may occur throughout the project.
• 14th Street SE will be closed between Mount Vernon Road and 8th Avenue. No traffic access at the Mount Vernon Road/14th Street intersection.
• Access to Mercy Hospital will remain open at all times with directional signage in place.

Enhancements throughout the project area include a new roundabout, concrete pavers, retaining walls, and updated street lighting.

The planned roundabout at 10th Street includes a landscaped center island and will enhance pedestrian safety, walkability, and connectivity. All pedestrian crossings will have safety flashing beacons and refuge areas where pedestrians can safely wait to complete their crossings. The roundabout design also reduces the number of vehicular turning movements and the number of directions pedestrians must consider when crossing the streets. Roundabouts reduce potential conflict areas that commonly cause vehicle collisions, improve the flow of traffic for vehicles, and reduce speeds through the intersection — improving safety.

The project is within the MedQuarter (MedQ) Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID). MedQ, which oversees street aesthetics in their district, collaborated with City staff early in the design phase to align aesthetic expectations with their Master Parkway Improvement Plan. As part of this process, homeowners, businesses, and neighborhood associations were invited to design workshops hosted by the SSMID and City staff. The SSMID chose upgraded materials over the City’s standard construction materials and will cover the associated increased costs.

The completion of these two projects will mark a significant milestone in enhancing this bustling gateway entry into the MedQ and Downtown areas.

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About Paving for Progress
Paving for Progress allocates about $20 million each year solely for the maintenance, repair, construction, and reconstruction of public streets. The program is funded by a voter-approved, one-percent sales tax for street repairs, initially passed in November 2013, extended in November 2021, and set to expire in 2034. Learn more about this and other Paving for Progress projects at CityofCR.com/PavingForProgress