Construction workers from Hickey Construction began work on sidewalks along Highway 22 in Kalona on Friday.

As part the Iowa Department of Transporation’s transition plan for the Americans with Disabilities Act, the renovations will replace sidewalks along Highway 22 to comply with guidelines for sidewalk evenness, crack width and tactile paving, according to A&R Land Services President Ryan Gurwell.

A&R is one contractor for the project, but documents from the DOT cite Hickey Contracting Company from Keokuk as the primary contractor.

The project will replace existing walkways but will not add any new facilities according to District 5 Transportation Planner Héctor Torres-Cacho.

He said that because the project addresses ADA-specific compliance, it is paid for entirely by the state DOT, which drew from state highway funds to pay for the project.

“Iowa DOT believes it is in the best interest of the citizens of Iowa for the Iowa DOT to facilitate ADA compliance in those communities that are not required to develop a transition plan,” Torres-Cacho said in an email. “The city of Kalona is on our list of communities.”

Construction is expected to last for 14 workdays and will temporarily close intersection walkways on Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets as well as B Avenue. City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said it would also partially close Highway 22.

“Essentially we’re taking a four lane down to three, so we’re going to lose a lane for certain periods of time throughout the day, throughout the project,” Schlabaugh said. “Other than that, the community shouldn’t see a big impact.”