The long-awaited, long-under-construction Southwest Arterial in Dubuque County is nearing the finish line. KCRG reports the city is intending to open it around September 1, which would slightly beat the Labor Day expectation issued at the beginning of the year.
Ironically, US 52 traffic is already on the non-arterial part of its rerouted segment: The road east of Luxemburg is under construction, and traffic for US 52/IA 3 is detoured on IA 136 and US 20. But at the end of this season, IA 3 will be restored to the route through Rickardsville and Sageville, and US 52 will not.
When the arterial opens, Dubuque will take over its part of old 52, removing all state maintenance from downtown surface streets, and IA 32 will also be decommissioned. However, IA 136 will not be truncated, instead keeping its end at Luxemburg.