Muscatine hears detailed plan for Isaac Avenue–Cypress Street reconstruction; design funded, construction funding uncertain

HDR Engineering gave the Muscatine City Council a detailed walkthrough of the Isaac Avenue–Cypress Street reconstruction on July 14, describing a phased, design-first approach and pressing the city to pursue construction funding.

The presentation was led by Morgan Mays of HDR Engineering, who said the corridor is a primary industrial and truck route connecting the Highway 61 bypass to 5th Street at HNI and that the design work is intended to produce a long-term, consistent and safer roadway for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. "This corridor is important — it's industrial, it's the main conduit and truck route," Mays said. He added that the current project carries only design funding and that construction funding has not yet been secured.

HDR outlined the project as roughly 1.7 miles split into three independent segments (middle, south and north) so portions can be built separately. The consultants said a March construction-only estimate was near $19,000,000 (2026 dollars) and identified a Bi-State (Quad Cities MPO) surface-transportation call as a near-term grant opportunity with an 80/20 federal-local split and a regional pool cited at roughly $22,000,000.

Why it matters: the corridor serves major employers and regional connections, and repeated flood-related closures in recent years have driven the design to include grade raises and upsized storm infrastructure. Mays said the design effort aims to make the corridor resilient to more frequent ponding and to improve pedestrian and bike connections to the city's greenway system.

Key design elements and tradeoffs described: - Mid-segment changes: HDR proposed removing an existing traffic signal at a crossing and replacing it with a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) and a center refuge island for pedestrians; consultants said the proposal is rooted in traffic analysis but solicited council feedback on safety concerns. "We are proposing to remove that traffic signal," Taylor Thielen of HDR said, noting a flashing beacon and refuge island would be added in its place. - Intersection strategy: engineers studied roundabouts for several locations but concluded that heavy truck traffic and geometric constraints made conventional intersection improvements — turn lanes and signal adjustments — more appropriate at some nodes after conducting a benefit-cost review. - Drainage and bridges: the design includes upsized storm piping (one area from 24 inches to 48–54 inches), swales to intercept parking-lot runoff, replacement of aging sanitary sewers and a proposed roughly 100-foot, three-span bridge with space for the trail and a three-lane roadway. HDR cautioned that raising the roadway to meet a 25-year storm standard will create backwater that may require mitigation or limited property acquisitions upstream of Geneva Creek. - Bicycles and pedestrians: the plan calls for a separated 8-foot trail along much of the corridor and a 5-foot sidewalk on the opposite side. Consultants emphasized a preference for a separated trail rather than on-road bike lanes. - Aesthetics: HDR sought council guidance on retaining-wall finishes, railings and roundabout center treatments and recommended public outreach events and online materials to gather community input.

Funding and schedule: Mays said the project has design-only funding from a prior federal RAISE grant and that construction funding must come from additional grant awards and local match. HDR recommended pursuing Bi-State and other grant programs; consultants noted the current Bi-State solicitation had a submission deadline at the end of July and that the RAISE design grant agreement requires the city to move from design toward implementation within ten years (the design award starts in 2022, giving roughly to 2032 to show implementation progress).

What comes next: HDR urged the council to finalize preliminary design, run public engagement this season and pursue construction grants. No construction funding decision or council vote occurred; the presentation concluded with council discussion of traffic operations, staging, right-of-way needs and the timetable for grant submissions.

Sources and attributions: direct quotes and technical descriptions in this report are drawn from the city council meeting presentation by Morgan Mays and Taylor Thielen of HDR Engineering and follow-up council discussion on July 14, 2026.