MUSCATINE, Iowa – Repairs to a lateral sewer line on 2nd Street in Downtown Muscatine will keep a half block of the street closed to traffic for the next week according to city officials. The closure is from Iowa Avenue to a half block east towards Sycamore Street.
The needed repair was actually identified earlier this year when a cavity was found underneath the pavement on the south side of the 100 block of East 2nd Street. The cavity was caused by a leak from a joint in the line underneath the pavement that washed away some of the dirt.
City officials investigated the cavity and closed off parking over the affected area, but further examination and repairs could not start at that time due to the high river levels. Now that the river has receded, work to expose, examine, and repair the line is underway.
However, the contractor did find another area on the same line but on the other side of the street that may have a joint that is leaking. That area will be exposed, examined, and repaired after repair work on the first area has been completed.
City officials indicated that the contractor anticipates finishing repairs on both sides of the street Tuesday and begin reconstruction of the street Wednesday. However, that could change depending on the amount of repairs needed. If the schedule holds, the contractor will be pouring concrete on Friday which will need to cure before the street is reopened to traffic.
The sidewalk remains open for customers of the local businesses but parking is limited on that block of 2nd Street due to the repair work.