CEDAR RAPIDS — An exit strategy is in place for the massive, rusty, blue water tower protruding from the skyline in south Cedar Rapids — viewable from Interstate 380, Kirkwood Community College’s campus and Wright Brothers Boulevard.

The Kirkwood Standpipe along Kirkwood Boulevard is to be torn down and in its place a taller water tower with greater capacity is to be built beginning next year.

“We anticipate demolishing the existing tank in October to November of 2016, and that construction of the new tank will occur in 2017 and 2018,” said Bruce A. Jacobs, Cedar Rapids utilities engineering manager in a letter to residents.

It should improve water pressure and fire protection for water customers in that Kirkwood area and east of Kirkwood Boulevard, as well as meet anticipated growth.

The Kirkwood Standpipe was built in 1976, but has been out of service since 2008 when leaks were detected. The city had intent to address the tower, but it wasn’t practical to fix the old giant, and it couldn’t be removed because U.S. Cellular phone company has a contract to use space on the tower, city officials said.

The contract is expiring Sept. 1, and the company informed the city it plans to remove its equipment this summer. That opened the door to make changes, which were recommended as part of a 2014 engineering study of water service in the area.

That’s good news for Earl Schmelzer, 70, who lives next door to the water tower in a newer residential neighborhood on Rolling Ridge Drive SW. He’s among a handful of residents who’ve called the city to do something about it over the years. He laments it is visible from high-traffic roads.

“That is the worst looking water tower in Cedar Rapids,” Schmelzer said. “It is a big eyesore.”

In January, Cedar Rapids approved a professional services agreement with Black & Veatch Corp. for up to $507,606 to design the Kirkwood Standpipe Replacement Project. The total budget is $2.7 million, although additional money may be needed in fiscal 2019, said Steve Hershner, Cedar Rapids utilities director.

The new tower is to be built on a hilltop near the current location. It’s capacity is expected to be 1.5 or 2 million gallons depending on the design, up from 400,000, and is to increase in height from 80 feet tall to about 110 feet. The column is to be a similar diameter, but the bowl is about twice that of the existing tank, Jacobs told residents in the letter.

Hershner said the lengthy construction timeline is intended to help control costs.

“The longer construction period will allow contractors more flexibility that will hopefully be reflected in their bid price by not forcing the work to occur during less-than-optimum conditions,” he said.