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Muscatine reopens streets, cleaning up riverfront

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By Jennifer Meyer | Friday, May 09, 2008 |

MUSCATINE, Iowa — City streets detoured during flooding have reopened as the Mississippi River continues to recede, but remains above flood stage in Muscatine.

The Muscatine Public Works department opened Mississippi Drive and removed floodgates on the 2nd Street bridge that were put up April 28 as the river inched toward a crest of about 21.4 feet on May 1. Flood stage in Muscatine is 16 feet.

“All the water was gone off of Mississippi Drive, and also we have clearance under the bridge in case of any heavy rain,” street maintenance supervisor Randy Howell said.

The river has been falling steadily, but the National Weather Service expects it to remain above flood stage for the next week.

Howell said streets department workers waited until after about 2 inches of potentially heavy rain forecasted for Wednesday did not materialize before they removed the flood gates later in the day.

Water lapped at the bridge’s trusses, but didn’t cover the roadway.

The floodgates off Mississippi Drive and a detour for trucks transporting goods for HON were to be taken down Thursday, Howell said.

Although traffic is returning to normal, it will take longer to restore Muscatine’s riverfront.

Parks and Recreation Director Richard Klimes said the city is still assessing damage to its facilities, but it’s apparent the deck at Pearl City Station will require some repairs.

The Mississippi Mist water feature, which was scheduled to open May 1, has silt that must be cleaned out of the fountain and the surrounding landscaping was damaged.

About 3 inches of layered silt and grease cover the floor of Pearl City Station.

“All these things are fixable, it just takes time and labor,” Klimes said.

Time is something Muscatine does not have, he said, because the “That was Then, This is Now” boat show is planned on the riverfront Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17.

“Now we have to clean up the riverfront in a very, very short time frame without a lot of help,” Klimes said.

The city will issue an appeal to residents to help clean up the riverfront and pick up other parks while workers concentrate on flooded areas.

Klimes said the riverfront parking lot remains closed off because water beneath it could cause it to crumble under traffic. Also, water damaged the ball diamond turf at Musser Park.

Jennifer Meyer can be contacted at (563) 262-0525 or

jennifer.meyer@muscatinejournal.com.