Cedar Falls police say a lot of people are getting rear-ended amidst Hwy 58 construction

Cedar Falls police have been responding to an increase in traffic crashes with the ongoing construction on Highway 58, particularly in the southbound area, south of Viking Road.

A press release from Cedar Falls Public Safety on Tuesday says too many cars are coming up on the construction area too fast, leading to an increase in rear-end crashes, with injuries reported in the two most recent incidents.

Right now, traffic is reduced to the southbound lane, putting vehicles head-to-head and leading to a lot of rear-end crashes in the area, often causing a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles.

First responders say when that happens, they have to shut down all of Southbound 58 south of Viking Road. That's making it difficult for emergency vehicles to get through and impossible for drivers behind the crashes to get around until the scene is completely cleared.

Current construction is expected to continue until July 15 and then crews are expected to switch the one lane of head-to-head traffic over to the northbound lane, so drivers can still expect traffic in the area to be tight for a while. The construction in the area means increased wait times for traffic, where it can take drivers up to three light cycles to get through the intersection.

Cedar Falls Police said in Tuesday's press release they're urging the public to avoid the area to reduce congestion, and say drivers should consider alternate routes including Hudson Road, Cedar Heights/Deere Road, and Hwy 63.

Police remind the public to slow down in construction areas and ensure there is adequate distance between you and the car in front of you. Drivers should always avoid distractions while behind the wheel, slow down when approaching emergency vehicles, and yield to emergency vehicles.