Morning update: Frantic Friday

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By Rick Rector | Friday, August 29, 2008 |

Good Friday morning, Quad-Cities. At 6 a.m. it’s 64 degrees under foggy skies in the Quad-Cities. Today will see patchy fog before 7 a.m. then plenty of sun with a high near 81 degrees. Tonight will be clear with a low around 52 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Water main breaks in Bettendorf

Iowa-American crews are on the scene in Bettendorf working on two early morning water line breaks at 18th and Grant streets and at 2726 Central Ave. You'll want to exercise caution if your morning commute takes you near either of those areas.

Northwest Boulevard work delayed, again

On Wednesday it was an equipment breakdown; Thursday it was the weather. Crews will wait until Tuesday to try to pave Northwest Boulevard in Davenport.

53rd Street paving

Eastbound traffic on 53rd Street will be reduced to one lane between Ripley Street and Welcome Way for construction of left turn lanes and the installation of traffic signals at the 53rd and Sheridan Street intersection. In addition, no access to 53rd Street will be allowed from Sheridan Street south of 53rd. At times westbound 53rd Street traffic may also be reduced to one lane. The new paving and signals will be completed by the end of the 2008 construction season.

Hitting the road?

Many of us are taking advantage of the holiday weekend by hitting the road for that one last road trip before summer officially ends, or heading to Iowa City for Hawkeye home football game. Be patient, safe and remember Iowa and Illinois law enforcement officials will be out in force checking for drunken drivers and conducting safety checks.

Iowa DOT cautions travelers about work zones over the Labor Day holiday

Travel during the upcoming Labor Day holiday could be slowed somewhat by road construction, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation, or IDOT. Several projects on state roadways may warrant advance planning on the part of drivers. Details of current construction projects can be found at http://www.511ia.org/.

In Eastern Iowa

• Iowa 38 is restricted to one 12-foot, 6-inch wide lane approximately 0.2 miles south of Delaware. The restriction is necessary for repairs to the bridge over U.S. 20.

• U.S. 218 is restricted to one 14-foot, 6-inch wide lane approximately 1.1 miles south of Vinton. The restriction is necessary for the replacement of the bridge over Mud Creek. Traffic is routed onto an on-site detour with alternating traffic being controlled using temporary traffic signals.

• Approximately one mile of Iowa 150 is closed to traffic between Benton County Roads E-16 and V-71 north of Vinton. The closure is needed to repair flood damage to the roadway. A detour is in effect using I-380, U.S. 20 and U.S. 218. Iowa 150 is open to Benton County Road E-16.

• Southbound traffic on I- 380 will be restricted to three lanes between exits 21 and 20B in Cedar Rapids. The restriction is needed for shoulder and foreslope repairs.

• Eastbound I- 80 traffic in Coralville has been shifted to the westbound side, and eastbound ramp traffic has been routed onto temporary pavement at the Coral Ridge and First Avenue interchanges. Two lanes of traffic are being maintained in each direction; however, the available lane and shoulder widths have been reduced through the area.

Several projects are in place in Waterloo.

• Traffic has been shifted on the I-380 southbound ramp over U.S. 20 and U.S. 218. Temporary concrete barrier rail is in place to protect the work areas.

• Traffic has been shifted on westbound I-380/U.S. 20 at the bridge over the Cedar River. Temporary concrete barrier rail is in place to protect the work areas.

• Iowa 281 is being detoured due to construction of a roundabout in Black Hawk County at the Iowa 281/County Road V-49 intersection. Iowa 281 through traffic is routed south on Black Hawk County Road V-51 to Dubuque Road, west on Dubuque Road to Black Hawk County Road V-43, then north to Iowa 281. Black Hawk County Road V-49 traffic is detoured west on Dubuque Road to County Road V-43, north to Donald Street and east on Donald Street back to County Road V-49.

• In Coralville, traffic on U.S. 6 is reduced to one lane in each direction between 12th Avenue and 22nd Avenue to allow for pavement widening and resurfacing.

• In Davenport, U.S. 61 is reduced to one lane in each direction between Concord and Howell streets. The roadway is being repaired and resurfaced, and received additional damage and setbacks due to recent flooding.

• In Cedar County, two culverts on Iowa 130 are being reconstructed near Tipton. Traffic is routed onto an on-site detour at each culvert. Each lane of travel is restricted to an 11-foot width through the construction area.

In western Illinois construction work to watch out for includes:

• U.S. 52 east of Lanark in Carroll County: temporary traffic signals.

• Illinois 78 north of Mt. Carroll in Carroll County: temporary traffic signals.

• Illinois 84 north of Savanna in Carroll County: restricted to one lane with temporary traffic signals.

• U.S. 6 bridge just west of Annawan in Henry County: restricted to one lane with temporary traffic signals.

• Illinois 68 at the Green River in Henry County: restricted to one lane with temporary traffic signals.

• Illinois 81 just east of Andover in Henry County: restricted to one lane with temporary traffic signals.

• Illinois 82 four miles north of Cambridge in Henry County: restricted to one lane with temporary traffic signals.

• I-80 bridge over the Mississippi in Rock Island County: lane restrictions.

• I-80 bridge over I-88 in Rock Island County: lane restrictions.

• Illinois 5 bridge over Illinois 84 in Silvis. lane restrictions.

• Illinois 92 bridges on the Centennial Expressway over 7th, 19th and 31st avenues in Rock Island: lane restrictions.

• Illinois 94 north of Aledo in Mercer County: lane restrictions and temporary traffic signals.

Check for area road work/closings and closings across Iowa and Illinois are before you head out today.

Also, check out our gas-price guide for the cheapest prices at the pumps in the Quad-Cities.

Labor Day parade will follow traditional route

Rock Island’s annual Labor Day parade returns to its traditional route after learning it would not have to be changed because of road construction.

According to city engineer Jim Johson, “The water main and resurfacing project scheduled for 24th Street has been delayed and will not start before the middle of September.”

The scheduled work will include the section of 24th Street between 18th and 25th avenues.

Monday’s parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at Washington Junior High School, at 33rd Street and 18th Avenue. The parade marches west along 18th Avenue, turns left at 24th Street and continues south to 25th Avenue. The parade turns right, travels west on 17th Street, and disbands into the Rock Island High School grounds. More than 100 entries have registered. This year’s theme is “All aboard to the future.”

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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.