Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about the Main Street Reconstruction Project? Ask them here. We will send you a response to your question and post the question and the response here. You will want to check the list of FAQ's to see if your question has already been answered previously. Send your questions to Chris Wand, Dubuque365 Cofounder and Durrant representative who is also the Project Architect on the Main Street Reconstruction Effort. Chris@dubuque365.com

The bike racks will be located between the NICC and Trilog Buildings on Seventh Street. We have included two of them and we designed them specifically for this project. Check out the graphic we just added showing the Bicycle Rack Elevation. You'll notice that they match the railings at the municipal parking lot at Third Street which are also being incorporated on all four blocks of Main Street.

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Question: When will this part of Main Street be open to traffic?

Based on the contract, the street is scheduled to be open to traffic no later than August 26, 2002. The City has included incentives for the contractor if they beat this deadline and Portzen Construction is working diligently to complete this project ahead of schedule. When it will actually open to traffic will depend greatly on weather conditions between now and then. The entire project is to be completed no later than September 30, 2002.

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Question: How will this project affect the festivals that happen on the plaza?

The design team took all of the events that occur on the plaza into account during the design process and spoke with many of the event organizers. In response to their concerns about the current situation and in an effort to meet their needs, we included the following items: two duplex electrical outlets in every new light fixture, a water source in one planter per block, a trench with removable covers in which to run sound cabling and a similar amount of seating to what previously existed. Additionally, we eliminated tripping hazards by utilizing sewer grates that have smaller penetrations and by eliminating some curbs in the main festival area around the Town Clock. Overall, the festivals should experience fewer obstacles, better electricity, more readily available water and a fresh, clean looking venue. It was our goal to make it as close to "business as usual" as was possible given the requirements of the street design.

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Question: The site says this is phase two of a four phase project. What are the other three phases to this reopening of the plaza?

Phase 1 was the opening of 8th Street completed a few years ago. The current project is Phase 2 and it is scheduled to be completed no later than the end of this September. Phase 3 will encompass the renovations to the plaza area on 7th Street from the alley at the Iowa Street Parking Ramp up to Locust Street and possibly all the way to Bluff Street. Phase 4 will include the renovations of the area that was 6th Street, stretching from Iowa Street to Locust Street and possibly beyond. The City has not yet determined when these other two phases will commence but they have been looking to start design on Phase 3 within 2 years.

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Question: What is being done to facilitate pedestrian traffic on Main during the reconstruction process.

Portzen Construction will be coordinating their efforts with each property owner and business to eliminate as many disruptions as possible. They will be working around individual business schedules such as trying to schedule the sidewalk replacement in front of the Town Clock Inn on a Monday and American Trust on a Saturday when these businesses are closed. While this will not always be possible, every effort will be taken to accommodate the needs of each business.

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