Expect slow going at State Highways 2 and 5 intersection at least until this fall

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Traffic west of the intersection of State Highways 5 and 2 is down to one lane as workers place storm sewer pipe under the highway. Photo by Michael Schaffer

June 12, 2009

By Michael Schaffer - Managing editor

The intersection of State Highways 2 and 5 when finished will be bigger than before and feature a center left-hand turn lane in all four directions. And both highways will keep a three lane configuration through Centerville until they reach head-to-head traffic toward the city limits.

However, getting to that point, which Project Engineer Scott Sommers predicted should be sometime this fall, is going to require the removal of tons of contaminated soil hauled to a prepared site.

"Every corner of that intersection I think at one time or another had a gas station on it with underground tanks," Sommers said. "And we didn't know the extent of the contamination. But I think everything they've gotten into so far they've had to take to the site."

Because of the contaminated soil, the project has experienced some delays.

Work crews were busy Thursday afternoon placing storm sewer pipe under Highway 2, which had traffic down to one lane west of the intersection.

"And they'll continue to do that. They'll cross across Highway 2 first and tear that pavement out and then put the storm sewer pipe across there," Sommers said. "And then they'll go across Highway 5 on the north side of the intersection."

He said traffic will be even more restricted and use of a stop sign will not be physically possible due to shared lanes for alternating traffic.

The present traffic light signal timing has been adjusted a few times to have better movements through the intersection, Sommers said.

"But we're at the point now where we can't really mess with it anymore," Sommers said.

Sternquist Construction of Indianola is the prime contractor. Also on the project Sommers estimated would cost $765,000 is Cole Construction of Keosaqua.