Morning update: Back to school
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By Rick Rector | Thursday, August 21, 2008 |
Good morning, Quad-Cities. At 6 a.m. it’s 71 degrees under fair skies in the Quad-Cities. Today there’s an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., with the temperature holding steady around 70 degrees. The chance of showers and thunderstorms drops to 50 percent tonight will a low around 67 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Back to school safety tips
Students are returning to school today in Davenport. But it’s a short day with a 2-hour early dismissal. Most other school districts in the Quad-City region have started or are also starting classes. Be watchful of school children and obey posted speed limits around schools.
Tips for walking or biking to school
• Walk with a friend.
• Pay attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards. Never cross the street against a stop light.
• Cross only at crosswalks, and never run into the street from between parked cars.
• Look left, right, and over your shoulder for traffic before crossing a street, and continue to check each direction.
• Make sure drivers see you by making eye contact with them.
• If riding a bicycle, scooter or skateboard to school, always wear a helmet and ride in the same direction as traffic. Walk your bike if crossing a street.
Tips for school bus riders
• Do not play in the street while waiting for the bus.
• Line up facing the bus, not along side it.
• After getting off the bus, move out of traffic.
• Wait for the bus driver to signal you to cross the street. Walk away from the front of the bus so the driver can see you.
Tips for parents, drivers
• Everyone should wear a seatbelt, and children should be in age and size appropriate car seats.
• Stay focused on driving and don't be distracted by kids in the car or with other activities.
• Slow down in school zones. Driving just 5 mph over the speed limit increases both the risk of hitting a child and the severity of any injuries.
• You never know if children crossing the street are paying attention, so remain stopped until the child has crossed not only your lane of traffic, but the adjacent lane as well.
• Never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk, as they may be waiting for someone to cross.
• Do not pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing, even if it is on the other side of the street.
• Use extra care in areas where children may enter the road from between parked vehicles or other things that block drivers' view of the road. And, watch out for bicycles.
(Source: www.teachers.com/safety)
Road work
It’s those dog days of August — and the height of the road repairs, resurfacing and sewer work. It seems not even the shortest trip around the Q-C is immune from barricades or detours. In downtown Davenport some streets will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. today through Saturday night for the River Roots Live Music Festival.
Those street closings include:
• 2nd Street from Harrison to Ripley streets
• Harrison Street from the Ground Transportation Center to the parking ramp
• Ripley Street from the Ground Transportation Center to 3rd Street.
2 p.m. closures include:
• Main Street from the Redstone parking ramp to 3rd Street with access to the U.S. Bank drive through remaining open.
Friday 2 p.m. closures include:
• Main Street from Redstone parking ramp to 3rd Street with access to the U.S. Bank drive through remaining open.
In Clinton, Mill Creek Parkway between 2nd Avenue South and North 18th Street will reopen at 8 a.m.
In west Davenport, interchange ramps at the U.S. 61 (River Drive) and Iowa 22 (Rockingham Road) intersection in Davenport will be closed from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for repairs, beginning today through Aug. 29. Employees of McCarthy Construction Co. will be working during the overnight hours, patching the ramps and putting in new shoulders. Drivers should use alternate routes.
Check for area road work/closings and closings across Iowa and Illinois are before you head out this morning.
Also, check out our gas-price guide for the cheapest prices at the pumps in the Quad-Cities.
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See news happening? Contact us
Stuck in traffic? See an accident or fire on your way to work? Drop us an e-mail at newsroom@qctimes.com or give us a call at (563) 383-2235 if you see breaking news such as house fires, traffic accidents and road conditions, street closures/detours and water main breaks in the Quad-City region.
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