Oct. 17--CEDAR RAPIDS -- The city of Cedar Rapids is seeking funding from a special state highway grant program for two roundabouts and a project to extend Ellis Boulevard NW a few blocks to Sixth Street SW. The cost of the Ellis project is estimated at $4.4 million. The two roundabouts would be at Cottage Grove Avenue SE and Forest Drive SE near Washington High School, and at Kirkwood Boulevard SW and 76th Avenue SW, said Adam Lindenlaub, the city's long-range planning coordinator.

The estimated cost of the first project is $642,000, the second, $3 million. On Thursday, the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization agreed to send a letter of support for Cedar Rapids' funding request to the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program.

The idea of extending Ellis Boulevard NW to Sixth Street SW was endorsed by the city's Neighborhood Planning Process earlier this year and is seen as a way to improve accessibility to and from the city's northwest quadrant and the Ellis Park area.

Bill Bogert, a member of the metropolitan planning organization, said the plan is to maintain Ellis Boulevard's residential feel once it connects to the busier, more-commercial Sixth Street SW.

The city also is seeking Clean Air funding for a fourth project that would upgrade traffic signals on A Avenue NE between Seventh and 10th streets NE.

The estimated cost, $93,570.

-- Contact the writer: (319) 398-8312 or rick. smith@gazcomm.com

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