Several major infrastructure and recreation projects across the Iowa City area are expected to either wrap up or move into critical construction phases in 2026, bringing long-awaited roadway upgrades, modern recreation facilities and expanded public amenities to growing communities.
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From Coralville and Tiffin to Iowa City and North Liberty, local governments are advancing projects aimed at improving safety, mobility and quality of life for residents.
Most of the work on Coralville’s long-running 5th Street reconstruction project is already complete, with only a final phase remaining in 2026. Crews are expected to begin a facelift of a small stretch of road directly in front of the Coralville Public Library in March or April, depending on weather conditions.
The three-year, $5 million project was divided into multiple phases to reduce disruptions along one of Coralville’s busiest corridors. Improvements have included expanded sidewalks, a rebuilt roadway, and upgraded water main and sewer infrastructure, modernizing a critical transportation route for residents and businesses.
Construction is well underway on Tiffin’s new $11.4 million recreation center, which broke ground in the summer of 2025. City officials expect a majority of the work to be finished by fall 2026, with the facility described as being “substantially complete” by that time.
Located near the Tiffin Elementary School soccer fields, the center will feature indoor basketball, volleyball and pickleball courts, batting cages, turf play areas for children, exercise rooms, a walking track and two dedicated exercise class spaces. A future aquatic center is planned as a later phase, though construction on that addition may be several years away as city leaders continue evaluating community needs.
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Iowa City’s Court Street reconstruction project is also approaching a major milestone, with most of the work expected to be completed in 2026. Crews spent 2025 expanding and rebuilding sidewalks between 1st Avenue and Muscatine Avenue while burying utility lines and adjusting pedestrian routes. Roadway improvements extended from Muscatine Avenue to 7th Avenue.
In 2026, construction is expected to continue from 7th Avenue to 2nd Avenue, stopping just short of the busy 1st Avenue intersection that serves as a key route for City High School students. The final connection between 2nd Avenue and 1st Avenue — roughly two city blocks — is anticipated to be completed by mid-2027 to minimize school traffic disruptions.
Coralville is also preparing to break ground on a new recreation center that will replace its existing 54-year-old facility. Construction is expected to begin in the summer, with plans nearing finalization.
The $54 million project will be funded through Coralville’s share of a 1% local option sales tax set to take effect July 1, 2026, along with a $14 million contribution from the Iowa City Community School District. Once complete, the expanded facility is expected to open in summer 2028 and serve both city residents and students.
Another long-anticipated project moving forward is the Forevergreen Road extension, which spans the city limits of Coralville and North Liberty. Discussions around the roadway began more than 20 years ago, with early planning dating back to 2004.
The full project is estimated to cost more than $20 million. The first phase, covering less than one mile of the planned 7.3-mile corridor, is expected to go out to bid in the spring. Funded through a combination of grant dollars and contributions from both cities, construction could begin later this year or in early 2027.
Originally reported by Ryan Hansen, Iowa City Press-Citizen in Yahoo.Com.
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