Jasper closes 20th Street for one-day storm sewer replacement work

Drivers on Jasper’s west side will lose a key cut-through for most of the workday Tuesday, when 20th Street closes between St. Charles Street and Brownstone Court for storm sewer replacement ahead of later paving work. The city says the road is scheduled to reopen by 4 p.m. if no unforeseen issues arise, limiting the disruption to one day but affecting school traffic, commutes and neighborhood access along the corridor.

The closure is part of a larger construction sequence, not an emergency response. Jasper is replacing the underground storm sewer first so the street can be paved later without forcing crews to tear into fresh asphalt again. That order matters to taxpayers because it reduces the chance of paying twice for the same stretch of roadway and helps the city finish the underground utility work before the surface is restored.

Jasper’s paving guidelines show how that planning works. Street Department personnel inspect all city streets each early spring, rate them and group needed work into phases based on location, condition, repair cost and available funding for street reconditioning. The city also notes that paving contractors may need as long as a week to 10 days after milling before the new surface goes down, another reason the city tries to time utility work before the final pavement stage.

The Street Department handles more than paving. Its listed duties include street maintenance, storm sewer maintenance and inspection, street sweeping, and snow and ice control. The city’s Engineering Department manages the design and installation of public-works and utility projects, including storm sewers and roadways, which explains why the sewer replacement comes before the paving crew returns.

The 20th Street work also fits into a broader spring maintenance pattern. On April 14, Jasper and contractor Calcar Paving began asphalt milling in Country Club Estates on Poplar Lane, Emily Street, 19th Street and 20th Street east of St. Charles Street. In late 2025, city officials also approved another 20th Street storm sewer replacement, saying a failed pipe would be replaced and encased in concrete for longevity and support.

The city lists the Street Department office at 305 S Clay St. in Jasper, with Jeff Theising serving as street commissioner. Residents can also use the city’s Jasper INsight app for alerts as work continues on the city’s streets and utilities.