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Decorah updates College Drive bridge schedule; residents ask for better construction notices
Summary
Public works described reconstruction of the College Drive bridge (repair approach slabs, new rubberized bridge seat and silicone sealant) with a projected mid‑July lane shift and late‑October completion, and residents asked for newsletters or landlord notices to reduce disruption and clarify overnight work.
Decorah — Public works staff told the City Council the College Drive bridge approach paving and related reconstruction will continue through the summer, with a planned lane shift the week of July 22 and a target for mainline paving by late July/early August; completion of remaining tie‑ins is expected in late October, all weather permitting.
Public works explanation: John (public works) said deterioration under an expansion joint was caused by water and salt getting beneath the slab. The repair will include a roughly three‑inch bridge seat filled with black crumb rubber and a top‑inch silicone sealant; staff said the sealant should be inspected as part of routine bridge inspections and may require replacement about every decade.
Resident concern and communication: Resident Anna Lenel and other downtown residents described unpredictable noise — including a sump pump that runs at night — and asked for better advance notices to tenants. Staff and council discussed options including newsletters to residents, a letter to landlords, and biweekly project updates used on prior street projects.
Council direction and enforcement: Council asked staff to remind contractors to avoid driving engines or starting noisy activities before the local noise ordinance hour and to try to minimize operations outside permitted hours. Staff said the sanitary sewer replacement behind John Klein School has required temporary pumping that may explain the intermittent nighttime pump operation; the sewer trunk line is being upsized from the existing vitrified clay pipe to a larger plastic main.
What to expect: Staff advised the community to expect some daytime noise and temporary disturbances while the paving and tie‑ins proceed. Construction schedules and sequencing may change; staff committed to follow‑up with residents who leave contact information.
Actionable items: Council and staff agreed to improve advance communications (newsletter or landlord notice) and monitor contractor hours against the noise ordinance. No formal vote was required for the operational updates.
