Sioux City council members reviewed a pre‑design plan for the Gordon Drive Viaduct reconstruction project during the consent agenda; staff described the alignment, bridge and drainage work and said the proposal has not changed since it was last seen by the council.
City engineering staff described a new alignment that will swing the viaduct south and build two new bridges: one spanning the Floyd River and an adjacent railroad to the south of the existing Gordon Drive, and another spanning Bacon Creek and a second railroad. The reconstructed route will touch down at Cunningham (with a traffic signal) and form a traditional intersection at Lewis, replacing the existing partial cloverleaf loops.
The plan includes multi‑use pedestrian trail access on the south side of the viaducts; staff said the trail will be about 12 feet wide and constructed to allow inspection vehicles to drive on it for maintenance and snow removal. The design also calls for tunnels beneath Lewis to maintain trail continuity and for a Bacon Creek Conduit replacement that would remove three century‑old box conduits.
Street improvements will extend on Lewis from Third Street south to Leech Avenue, with a new interchange and related intersection improvements at Leech. Gordon Drive will be improved through Fairmount. Staff emphasized that the Bacon Creek Conduit replacement will remove three boxes, one of which is about 100 years old, and that work will start at Ruston Street and proceed west to the old Bacon Creek Channel.
Council members asked about pedestrian access locations and trail width, snow removal and whether the partial cloverleaf loops would be removed; staff answered that the loops would be replaced with a traditional intersection and that pedestrian access will be on the south side only. The project presentation was provided as part of the consent agenda item approving a pre‑design agreement for the Gordon Drive Viaduct reconstruction; the consent agenda passed unanimously.
The pre‑design agreement will allow engineers to complete more detailed plans and proceed to subsequent phases, including final design and construction scheduling. No construction schedule or project budget was provided during the review.