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Community leaders, contractors and the business community will gather with Marion Chamber ambassadors to celebrate the substantial completion of the 7th Avenue Reconstruction & Streetscape Project. A ribbon-cutting celebration will take place on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. in the North Plaza, located at 7th Avenue and 11th Street in Uptown Marion. The agenda includes brief remarks by community leaders, a display of items that were found during construction and a warm cider toast by Mayor Nick AbouAssaly. All are welcome to attend. “We are thrilled to be celebrating the completion of this highly-anticipated project,” said Brooke Prouty, director of the Uptown Marion District and business liaison for the project. “We knew that rebuilding infrastructure that was more than 100 years old, during a pandemic and on the heels of a derecho, would come with its challenges. But was it worth it? Absolutely.” The work, spanning two construction seasons, included the reconstruction of the street and sidewalks and the replacement of underground utilities, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and water main on 7th Avenue and adjacent side streets between 8th and 12th Streets and 6th and 8th Avenues in the historic central business district. It also includes the addition of a plaza on 11th Street that stretches from the Uptown Artway south across 7th Avenue. The project improves walkability, accessibility and overall safety in the heart of the community. Angled parking spaces were added on the south side of 7th Avenue and the number of designated accessible parking spaces in Uptown tripled. In addition, the City worked with building and business owners to update fire suppression systems and ADA entrances. New community gathering spaces were added to make the area attractive to potential businesses, visitors and residents. “I have been so impressed with the collective support shown for this project,” said City Manager Ryan Waller. “The positivity began with the business owners in the construction zone and carried through to the shoppers, the visitors and the community at large. The public investment is already contributing to a renaissance that is happening in the Uptown District.” The $6.9 million project was funded by Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) proceeds and bonding through the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Marion-based Rathje Construction Company served as the general contractor for the project. Seventh Avenue will officially reopen to traffic on Thursday afternoon.
Community leaders, contractors and the business community will gather with Marion Chamber ambassadors to celebrate the substantial completion of the 7th Avenue Reconstruction & Streetscape Project. A ribbon-cutting celebration will take place on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. in the North Plaza, located at 7th Avenue and 11th Street in Uptown Marion. The agenda includes brief remarks by community leaders, a display of items that were found during construction and a warm cider toast by Mayor Nick AbouAssaly. All are welcome to attend.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating the completion of this highly-anticipated project,” said Brooke Prouty, director of the Uptown Marion District and business liaison for the project. “We knew that rebuilding infrastructure that was more than 100 years old, during a pandemic and on the heels of a derecho, would come with its challenges. But was it worth it? Absolutely.”
The work, spanning two construction seasons, included the reconstruction of the street and sidewalks and the replacement of underground utilities, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and water main on 7th Avenue and adjacent side streets between 8th and 12th Streets and 6th and 8th Avenues in the historic central business district. It also includes the addition of a plaza on 11th Street that stretches from the Uptown Artway south across 7th Avenue.
The project improves walkability, accessibility and overall safety in the heart of the community. Angled parking spaces were added on the south side of 7th Avenue and the number of designated accessible parking spaces in Uptown tripled. In addition, the City worked with building and business owners to update fire suppression systems and ADA entrances. New community gathering spaces were added to make the area attractive to potential businesses, visitors and residents.
“I have been so impressed with the collective support shown for this project,” said City Manager Ryan Waller. “The positivity began with the business owners in the construction zone and carried through to the shoppers, the visitors and the community at large. The public investment is already contributing to a renaissance that is happening in the Uptown District.”
The $6.9 million project was funded by Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) proceeds and bonding through the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
Marion-based Rathje Construction Company served as the general contractor for the project.
Seventh Avenue will officially reopen to traffic on Thursday afternoon.