Construction & Project Updates

August 12, 2025

Hines Lakeview Drive: The existing pavement has been pulverized and perimeter erosion control has been installed. Crews are working near the terminus of the street in preparation for the watermain boring--set to commence and be completed this week. This will interrupt access to the boat launch and for a few homeowners at the end of Hines Lakeview for the balance of this week. EOR, our project engineers, are staking driveway saw cuts in preparation for removals in the near future. Water service connections in the area of the new watermain will be coming soon, and these must be completed (along with a few minor utility adjustments along the entire project area) before blacktop installation.

1st and Marshall: Final grading of the road surface is occurring today, in preparation for blacktop installation Wednesday and possibly Thursday of this week. With the exception of some final turf restoration and some minor manhole work, the project is basically complete after the blacktop is installed. Everything should be 100% complete by Monday of next week.

Highway 63: Concrete, concrete, concrete. With the exception of the installation of the new light poles, which is now ongoing, concrete will be virtually the sole the focus for the next several weeks. Final utility adjustments, final blacktop installation, and final painting will follow right after the concrete work.

Next week will be a short work week for the construction crews due to Rutabaga Festival. Everyone is committed to getting as much of the remaining work done as possible before festivities kick off.

As always, your cooperation and ongoing patience is appreciated!

August 5, 2025

Hines Lakeview Drive: Tree trimming has been completed, and pavement pulverization started today (a few days early). The watermain crew will mobilize early next week, with directional drilling of the new watermain in the final ~950 feet of the road planned to start on Wednesday, August 13th. Once the watermain work is complete, road crews will return to do some final modest shaping and grade adjustments before installation of the new blacktop. Substantial completion is planned for mid-September. As part of the final road work, most property owners will have some impact to the end of their driveways. Letters were mailed today with details and information on how to get more information.

1st and Marshall: Concrete installation is currently underway, with installation of all curb, gutter and sidewalk planned for completion by the end of the day tomorrow (8-6-25). The first lift of blacktop should be installed late this week or early next week. Final installation of blacktop and substantial completion is still planned for mid-August.

Highway 63: The focus of the project for the foreseeable future will be sidewalk installation. Crews are in now working on final prep, with concrete installation recommencing Thursday of this week. First priority will be filling the gaps in the sidewalk on the west side of the downtown district. Work will then move to the east side of the downtown district, starting at the Four Corners and then moving northward. Concrete work will last several weeks. Once the concrete work is completed (or nearing completion), blacktop crews will return to put the final lift in the parking lane on the east side of the downtown district and wrap up and remaining loose ends. Once blacktop work is complete, final painting and restoration work will commence. We're still awaiting delivery of the new light poles for downtown. You will see those start to go up in the coming weeks as well!

It has certainly been a busy and hectic construction season here in the Island City. The long delays during blacktopping operations are behind us. We're not out of the woods yet, but the trees are thinning. Hopefully mother nature cooperates for the next few weeks!

July 29, 2025

Hines Lakeview Drive: City crews will be trimming some trees over the roadway early next week to create adequate overhead space for blacktopping operations. Impact will be minimized to the extent possible, but failure to do so will result in damaged trees and broken limbs rather than planned trimming. Pavement pulverization is planned for August 6th and 7th, weather permitting. Work on the new watermain (in the terminal ~950 feet of Hines Lakeview) is planned to commence between August 11th and 13th. Street resurfacing will occur after the watermain work is complete.

1st and Marshall: Following the recent completion of utility installations, work to bring the road surface to grade is ongoing. Stakers are here today in preparation for installation of curb and gutter beginning Thursday. The first lift of blacktop is planned for late next week, followed by installation of sidewalk and some miscellaneous finish work, then followed by the final lift of blacktop. Substantial completion is still contemplated in two weeks or so from now.

Highway 63: Blacktop work should be completed Thursday of this week, except for the parking lane on the east side of the downtown business district and some ancillary spots such as driveways and parking lots. Prep for the final sidewalk installation will commence Monday of next week, with concrete installation starting next Thursday (August 7th). The next round of concrete work will start with filling the remaining gaps on the west side of the downtown district, followed by sidewalk installation on the east side downtown, then moving to the east-west portion of Hwy. 63. Concrete work will be full-steam ahead the week of August 11th. If all goes according to plan, downtown sidewalks should all be complete by Rutabaga Festival. Assuming the new downtown light poles are delivered on time, they will also be installed beginning the week of August 11th. Blacktop in the parking lane on the east side of downtown and in the ancillary areas will occur after the concrete work is complete.

As always, this work schedule is weather dependent and subject to change. It does look like Mother Nature will be cooperating for the foreseeable future. Keep you fingers crossed!

July 23, 2025

Hines Lakeview Drive: Pulverization of the street surface is still planned for ~August 7-8. Installation of the watermain in the final ~950 feet of the road is planned to commence around August 11th. This project is planned for substantial completion by mid-September.

1st and Marshall: Road work commenced this week, with plans for concrete installation commencing the end of next week, weather depending. Blacktop installation is planned for the week of August 11th. All of the utility work is completed in the area, with the homes all on new water services and new water main.

Highway 63: No major change from last week. Work is currently focused on blacktop, with hopes to still have it completed by the end of next week. Concrete work is still planned to resume the first week of August. New light poles are still scheduled for delivery in early August.

Mother Nature has been a bear. Your patience is still appreciated. And yes, we're still open for business!

Construction Update Addendum for July 16, 2025

We have approved some temporary, short-term rolling closures of some of the side streets during blacktopping of Hwy. 63. Please see the sketches prepared by the contractor in the graphics (green=open, red=closed, orange=alternate route). These closures will not all be occurring at once, and will just roll with the blacktopping crew and be fairly short-lived. This reduces the number of flaggers they need and should expedite the process.

The closures will start tomorrow, Thursday July 17th, on the east/west portion of Hwy. 63 between 2nd and 8th Avenues. If the blacktopping moves quickly, they could possibly move into the north/south portion of the work zone late tomorrow as well. Most likely this will occur Monday of next week.

July 15, 2025

Hines Lakeview Drive: Bids were awarded and the pre-construction meeting was held today. Work will start in early August, with the first major undertaking being the pulverization of the existing street surface. This is planned for approximately August 7th or 8th and should most likely only take one day, but no more than two. Watermain work in the terminal ~950 feet of the street will follow shortly thereafter. Substantial completion of this project should be achieved by September 19th, so things will move quickly once we get started. There could be up to a 4-6 week window between pulverization of the roadway and installation of new blacktop. We'll be disseminating more information of how each property will be impacted in the near future.

1st and Marshall: Storm sewer work is nearing completion. All utility work should be completed by the end of next week. Rebuilding the road and preparing it for sidewalk, curb & gutter and blacktop should commence the week of July 28th. Project completion is planned for early- to mid-August.

Highway 63: Blacktop, blacktop, blacktop. Depending on weather, weather, weather! First applications of blacktop were applied Monday of this week and are awaiting test results and approval to move to full blacktop production. Full blacktop operations should be approved for Wednesday of this week, but weather will most likely make Wednesday a no-production day. Things should take off Thursday. The next two weeks will be dominated by blacktop and more traffic impacts. Some concrete work may be mixed in. Sidewalk work on the east side of the downtown district is still tentatively planned for the first week of August.

Is that light at the end of the tunnel? Yes. Yes it is.

July 8, 2025

Hines Lakeview Drive: The bid opening occurred last week, and we're working towards officially awarding the bid and finalizing contracts. At this time we're expecting work to commence in early August, starting with watermain work, followed by street resurfacing later--most likely in September. Details will continue to develop over the next two weeks.

1st and Marshall: Watermain installation and pressure testing was completed last week. Water samples will be pulled tomorrow and tested to ensure quality and safety. Once those tests come back with positive results, new water services will be installed to the property lines--most likely early next week. Storm sewer work should be completed this week. Work to begin reconstructing the street will also most likely commence early next week.

Highway 63: Blacktop patching along the new curb on the east side downtown continues. As planned, milling of the roadway surface started on Monday of this week on the west end of town. They should reach the Four Corners by Wednesday, then turn north. If all goes well, this work could be fully completed by the end of this week, but it very well may carry over to early next week. Later this week, the last of the curb and gutter installation on the east side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 will occur, followed by the installation of the final few sidewalk squares on the west side. This should see the sidewalk on the west side fully complete by week's end. Monday of next week will see the installation of the test strip of blacktop, which then need to be tested for quality before full blacktopping operations begin. If all goes well, full blacktopping will start Wednesday of next week, and potentially be done approximately July 25th. This work could spill into the following week, depending upon weather and delays. Sidewalk installation on the east side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 is currently planned to begin the first week of August.

Traffic impacts are getting more severe this week. Everyone's patience, understanding, and safety-consciousness continues to be appreciated. The schedule is getting tight, but everyone shares the goal of minimizing impact on the 93rd Annual Rutabaga Festival.

Cumberland remains open for business!

July 1, 2025

Please note that construction work this week will end mid-day Thursday in preparation for the 4th of July holiday weekend.

Hines Lakeview Drive: Bid opening for this project is Wednesday, July 2nd. We'll know a lot more next week about the specific construction plan and schedule.

Foster and Grove: While the contractor is still completing a few final details, construction work on these streets is finally complete! This project will be excluded from future construction updates.

1st and Marshall: Watermain work on the block of 1st Ave. associated with this project started late last week and continues this week, along with stormwater work at the corner of Marshall and Western. This work will continue throughout the week. Watch for a more detailed update after the holiday weekend.

Highway 63: Installation of the remaining new curb and gutter commences today and should be completed tomorrow or possibly Thusday by mid-day. This work will be accompanied by continued utility adjustments and miscellaneous patching. Work on the new streetlights downtown will also be incuded in the mix. We will be installing a few of our old poles as temporary lighting downtown before the end of the week to provide a bit of light downtown until the new poles arrive in August. This lighting will be sparse, but it is better than darkness! Milling of the driving surface of Hwy. 63 will start on Monday, July 7th at the west end of town and will move eastward, most likely reaching the Four Corners mid-week next week. It will then turn northwards. Depending upon progress, it could be completed the end of that week--but will most likely spill over into the following week a bit. Installation of the new blacktop surface will begin the week of July 14th, again starting at the west end of town, moving eastward, and eventually turning north at the Four Corners. Blacktopping will take a couple weeks to complete. Final sidewalk installation, including on the east side of the downtown business district, is currently scheduled to begin the week of July 28th. New light poles are scheduled to arrive during the first half of August, which means that they could potentially be in place by Rutabaga.

Keep hoping for good weather, safe conditions, timely deliveries, and minimal unforseen circumstances! Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business.

June 24, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent--and yes, there is more rain in the forecast...

Hines Lakeview Drive: This project is out for bids and construction is planned for later this year.

Foster and Grove: Final work is nearing completion and should be wrapped up by the end of this week. The pouring of concrete diamonds around manholes is imminent.

1st and Marshall: Project construction kicked off this week. Work will start with blacktop and concrete removals and stormwater work and transition to water main work next week.

Highway 63: Concrete removals and installation of street lighting conduit on the east side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 downtown is progressing quickly. This work, along with preparation for curb and gutter installation, is scheduled for completion by the end of this week. Installation of curb and gutter is still being planned for prior to the 4th of July holiday weekend. Some concrete installation on the south side of the east/west portion of Hwy. 63 could be occuring in the next few days. Additionally, underground boring of street lighting conduit on portions of the west side of the downtown district (and at intersections) started today. This work will hopefully be completed by the end of this week as well. Next week contractors will begin adjusting utilities (i.e. manholes, water shut-offs, etc.) in the street surface in preparation for the mill and overlay process. Mill and overlay of the driving surface is still planned to commence immediately following the 4th of July holiday weekend. The process will start on the west side of town and head eastward along. Hwy. 63 before turning northward at the Four Corners.

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

1st & Marshall Construction Update

As promised, here is an update on the pending 1st and Marshall Construction Project behind the Elementary School following our pre-construction meeting with the contractor earlier today:

The work zone will include two blocks--one block of 1st Ave. between Water and Marshall, and one block of Marshall Street between 1st and Western. The project includes significant stormwater upgrades, new street, curb, gutter, sidewalk and water main. Work will commence on Monday June 23rd, and should be substantially complete by mid-August (possibly by August 1st if weather and conditions cooperate). Affected residents on this block of 1st Ave. luckily all have alley access in the back. Due to the aggressive work schedule, they should just plan not have front yard access until August (direct contact with these residents will be made soon).

The week of June 23rd, expect stormwater work beginning at the corner of Marshall and Western, and blacktop removals throughout the zone. The week of June 30th watermain work is planned to begin on 1st Ave.

After this post, future updates on this project will once again be included with our weekly city-wide construction update each Tuesday. Thanks for your patience and cooperation. Cumberland will be looking great soon!!

In case you haven't seen, or don't want to read this week's construction update--please read this! Construction crews will be switching to the east side of the downtown district tomorrow, Wednesday June 18th. Please observe no parking on that side of the street beginning tonight at midnight to facilitate the switchover. Thanks for your assistance

June 17, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are subject to change: This has been very evident the last few weeks!

Foster and Grove: No new updates.

1st and Marshall: The City of Cumberland is holding a pre-construction meeting with the contractor on Wednesday June 18, after which we'll know a great deal more about how this project will unfold and the timeline. We'll do a one-time separate update later this week regarding the 1st and Marshall project.

Highway 63: Removal work on the east/west section of Hwy. 63 (near the former hospital site) has been underway this week. Traffic control on the north/south section will switch to the east side of the highway on Wednesday June 18th, with streetlight removals and sawcutting commencing immediately--most likely on Thursday June 19th. Please observe no parking on the east side beginning Wednesday morning. Removals of sidewalk, curb and gutter in the dowtown area should commence on Monday June 23rd and move northward from the Four Corners. Installation of curb and gutter will follow shortly thereafter.

On the west side of the north/south section of the highway, you may see a small amount of concrete work and temporary filling of some missing sidewalk slabs occurring after the major work switches to the east side. This may result in temporary, sporadic parking closures on both sides of the highway. This will be minimized to the extent possible. Also on the west side, while parking has been mostly reopened, several cones per block will remain placed along the curb in the parking lane. This will be to draw attention to the temporary elevation difference between the asphalt and gutter line.

Mill and overlay of the highway driving surface is still scheduled to commence immediately following the 4th of July holiday weekend. Sidewalk installation on the east side will not occur until the resurfacing work is complete.

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

June 10, 2025

Very little change in this week's update, other than uncooperative weather is pushing a few transition dates around on the Hwy. 63 project.

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are constantly subject to change.

Foster and Grove: We're still waiting for the finish work around manholes, which are still low and marked with cones. It should occur in the next week or two.

1st and Marshall: Work on these two blocks behind the Elementary School is scheduled to begin the week of June 23rd. The exact order of operations will be determined in the coming weeks.

Highway 63: Concrete work on the west side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 should wrap up this week or very early next week. Mid- to late-week next week they will transition to the east side of the downtown and north/south portion of the corridor-starting with traffic control and saw-cutting, followed by curb, gutter and sidewalk removals. All new curb in this area should be installed prior to the 4th of July holiday weekend (but not sidewalk). Following the 4th of July, work will shift to the mill and overlay of the highway driving surface to allow for street light work on the east side downtown. Sidewalk work on the east side is currently comtemplated to commence around the week of July 21st. Some work on the concrete on the east/west portion on Hwy. 63 is occuring this week. We're still hopeful that all the concrete work downtown can be completed by Rutabaga--but no firm promises from the contractors due to the unknown of Mother Nature!

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

June 3, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are constantly subject to change.

Foster and Grove: We're still waiting for the finish work around manholes, which are still low and marked with cones. It should occur in the next week or two.

1st and Marshall: Work on these two blocks behind the Elementary School is scheduled to begin the week of June 23rd. The exact order of operations will be determined in the coming weeks.

Highway 63: Concrete work on the west side of the north/south portion of Hwy. 63 will wrap up in the next week-and-half (planned for completion by Friday June 13th). The following week they will transition to the east side of the downtown and north/south portion of the corridor-starting with traffic control and saw-cutting, followed by curb, gutter and sidewalk removals. All new curb in this area should be installed prior to the 4th of July holiday weekend (but not sidewalk). Following the 4th of July, work will shift to the mill and overlay of the highway driving surface to allow for street light work on the east side downtown. Sidewalk work on the east side is currently comtemplated to commence around the week of July 21st. Work on the concrete on the east/west portion on Hwy. 63 will be worked in throughout the schedule. There are a lot of moving parts, and an intense amount of contractor coordination happening. There will undoubtedly be modest adjustment to this plan as the work unfolds.

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

May 27, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are constantly subject to change.

Foster and Grove: Work around manholes is scheduled for completion at the end of this week.

Arcade and Hunter: Resurfacing was completed last week.

Highway 63: Sidewalk installation on the west side of Hwy. 63 downtown begins this week, along with any outstanding curb work on the same side. As we reported last week, sidewalk installation is expected to occur at a rate of approximately a block a week--though the goal will be slightly faster than this pace. Contractors are currently estimating 2-3 weeks before they will switch to the east side of downtown for the same work. Sidewalk on the west side will be completed before the switch is made.

Thanks to everyone for your patience, and remember--Cumberland is open for business!!

May 20, 2025

Please keep in mind that construction schedules are always weather dependent and are constantly subject to change.

Foster and Grove: With the exception of some work around manholes, work on these streets is substantially complete.

Arcade and Hunter: Resurfacing will be completed this week.

Highway 63: Concrete crews plan to return Thursday of this week (May 22nd) to begin installation of pedestrian curb ramps at the corners on the west side of the highway downtown. Either late this week or next week just following Memorial Day, sidewalk installation on the west side downtown will begin--with work once again commencing at the Four Corners and moving northward. Sidewalk installation will occur at a rate of approximately one block per week. And finally, the remaining curb installation on the west side of Hwy. 63 will also occur next week--currently planned for May 28th or 29th. It's important to note that certain sections of sidewalk may remain temporarily unpoured to leave space for installation of new lightpole bases. When and where this does occur, gravel and/or rubber matting will be used to make the sidewalks passable.

Thanks to everyone for your patience as this important and valuable work occurs!

May 13, 2025

Hwy 63 (from Water St. to Veteran’s St.) will be closed on Saturday, May 17 to replace water service to the Elementary School.

Foster & Grove: Final resurfacing will be completed Tuesday, May 13.

Hunter & Arcade: Hunter (from Western to Arcade) and Arcade (from Hunter to Lake) are being resurfaced with a mill and overlay treatment. No parking on these blocks the weeks of May 12 and May 19.

Hwy 63: Curb, gutter and sidewalk removals on the west side of the downtown business district heading north continue this week. New curb is being installed in this section now. Sidewalk installation will follow shortly thereafter--planned for the week of May 19th. Mirror image work on the east side of the downtown business district should commence just after Memorial Day.

May 6, 2025

Foster & Grove: No parking May 8th from 2nd to Arcade as they prepare the roadway for final resurfacing the following week. Exact dates of final resurfacing are TBD.

Hunter & Arcade: Hunter (from Western to Arcade) and Arcade (from Hunter to Lake) are being resurfaced with a mill and overlay treatment. No parking on these blocks the weeks of May 12 and May 19.

Hwy 63: Curb, gutter and sidewalk removals on the west side of the downtown business district began this week. This work should wrap this week. New curb installation in this section should begin Monday May 12th, with sidewalk following shortly thereafter--now planned for the week of May 19th. Mirror image work on the east side of the downtown business district should commence just after Memorial Day.

April 30, 2025

Sidewalk removals in the downtown business district will begin next week. Business and property owners will need to remove personal property (i.e. benches, pop machines, etc.) from the sidewalks to accommodate the work. Thanks for your cooperation. Things are about to get real, but we'll get through this together!

April 29, 2025

There will be no parking on Foster and Grove Streets between 2nd and Arcade Avenues on May 8th as contractors will be preparing these streets for the final installation of blacktop the following week (the exact date for blacktopping is TBD). Please plan accordingly. We will do our best to keep you informed on the date for final blacktopping.