The East Street reconstruction project began Monday, April 1st. The project will be divided into several phases. Street closures will started at the intersection of 1st Avenue and East Street. This portion of the project is projected to take about a month. On April 10th, the portion of East Street from the north side of the RR tracks to just south of 4th Avenue will be closed. This is a change from the original schedule. 

Access to the City of Grinnell Public Service office and Recycling Center will be available during the entire project. While the intersection of 1st and East is closed, vehicles can use the driveway just north of 1st Avenue and enter the parking lot using the driveway between the first two sets of buildings or loop around the entire set of buildings back to 1st Avenue. Drivers are asked to exercise caution entering and exiting as city trucks also use this driveway. 

As a result of the closure of East Street there has been increased traffic on surrounding streets, in particular at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and High Street. This is an uncontrolled intersection. The Grinnell Police Department reminds those traveling through uncontrolled intersections that the driver of the vehicle on the left is to yield the right-of-way to the vehicle approaching from the right. Officers will be monitoring this general area to ensure safety and minimize the need for enforcement action.  

The project includes removal of the street surface, some underground infrastructure replacement, addition of handicap sidewalk ramps at intersections, curb replacement as needed, and repaving of the street. The entire project is projected to be complete by early November.  

This project is part of an overall project to reconstruct East Street from Garfield Avenue to 6th Avenue. The portion of the project from Garfield to 1st Avenue was completed in 2018.