City of Dubuque Purchases Former Butt's Florist Site for Roundabo

A treacherous three-way intersection Dubuquers know all-too-well could be getting upgraded to a roundabout in the near future. This plan has been in the works for 15 years, but progress appears to be moving in the right direction.

Per Telegraph Herald, the City Council of Dubuque voted 7-0 to purchase a vacant lot near the three-way stop. That lot, at 2300 University Avenue, was once home to Butt's Florist, who would've been negatively impacted had the city went ahead with the acquisition while they were still in business at that location.

Google Maps

Anyone who has commuted in Dubuque for a long period of time knows the University Avenue/Asbury Road three-way stop well. I must navigate it every day on my way home from work. Three-way stops are not inherently challenging, but they are when you're dealing with three-lanes.

At any given stop sign in that intersection, you could have one person going straight and another make a turn simultaneously. I always find myself pausing an extra second when it's technically "my turn" just to make sure no one is going to zoom out in front of me.

Google Maps

The City of Dubuque's plans for this roundabout go back 15 years. The decision to move forward with the roundabout was made easier following Butt's Florist relocation to 3220 Dodge Street. Their former building was torn down back in 2020, leaving behind an empty lot of grass and pavement.

Per Telegraph Herald, a city memo stated the property was listed for as much as $1 million. This purchase will allow the city to develop the roundabout that should make that intersection much easier to navigate in the coming years. Any land not necessary for street or sidewalk construction will then be sold off following the roundabout's completion.