3rd Street Resurfacing Project Updates

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What is Changing?
There are a variety of changes that drivers and pedestrians will see, aside from converting 3rd Street from a one-way road to a two-way road between Marquette and River Dr.

Citizens may have noticed some bagged signage and signals. When the conversion goes live, those bags will be lifted to guide the new traffic pattern.
Image of traffic lights that are bagged until the conversion to two-ways happens

Here’s what the updated intersection of Marquette and 3rd Streets will look like.
This map image illustrates the changes to travel patterns that will happen with the conversion at 3rd and Marquette

And, this is what drivers will see at River Drive and 3rd Street. Keep in mind, we are only converting 3rd Street for now; the conversion of 4th Street will happen next fall.

Traveling and parking between Harrison and River Drive will also see a few changes. We have added and relocated a few loading zones and parking spaces to better accommodate two-way travel. There is still ample parking available in the parking ramps and on the street. Staff worked in partnership with the business community to keep the same level of parking while accommodating the loading zones.

Another addition is a dedicated turning lane to help keep traffic moving as efficiently as possible.

Drivers should also be mindful that traffic signals at several intersections will also be removed as part of the conversion. The intersections at 3rd and Western, Scott, and Ripley will become two-way stops, while the intersections at 3rd and Pershing and Iowa will become four-way stops. The removal will help to reduce unnecessary stops and is based on use, need, and national traffic control standards.

As part of the two-way conversion, key crosswalks throughout the corridor are being refreshed to align with the new traffic pattern. The improvements enhance visibility for both drivers and pedestrians, making it safer and more intuitive to navigate downtown on foot.

When the change goes live, drivers may notice the traffic signals are not synchronized. City staff will work to optimize signal timing based on traffic flow in the coming weeks and months.

While the conversion comes with multiple benefits for those who live, work, shop, and play in downtown Davenport, if you are looking for an alternate route through downtown, River Drive remains available.

Why is the City converting 3rd and 4th Streets to Two-Way Travel?
The City of Davenport is converting portions of 3rd and 4th Streets to two-way travel following direction from the Mayor and City Council.

This initiative builds on the Downtown Davenport Partnership’s Master Plan, Davenport 2030: A Resilient City, which was accepted by the Mayor and City Council on January 27, 2021. Find details on the plan and motion at this link.

The plan outlines a number of benefits associated with the conversion, including improved economic development opportunities, enhanced housing access, better traffic circulation, support for a standardized flood detour, and alignment with long-term growth goals for Downtown Davenport.

Following acceptance of the plan, City Council directed staff to conduct a more detailed analysis of the potential impacts of a conversion, including feasibility, infrastructure needs, and overall benefits to Davenport’s transportation network.

After Mayor and Council Work Sessions, multiple community conversations and presentations, and a community-wide survey, Davenport City Council voted to amend the City ordinance to establish the change to two-way travel on 3rd and 4th Streets between Marquette and River Drive. Find details on the resolution at this link.

The conversion of 3rd Street (between Marquette and River Drive) is anticipated to happen early to mid-November 2025. The conversion of 4th Street (between Marquette and River Drive) is expected in the fall of 2026.

Find links to technical memos and presentations that led to the decision to convert 3rd and 4th Streets between Marquette and River Drive from one-way to two-way travel at the links below.

When will the conversion happen?
We anticipate the conversion from one-way to two-way travel on 3rd Street between Harrison Street and River Drive to be completed early to mid-November, pending weather.

How will I know when the conversion happens?
To support a smooth transition, we have developed a clear plan for communication which includes sharing updates through various platforms.

In the days leading up to the conversion, the city will make an announcement on social media and coordinate with local media and the Downtown Davenport Partnership to help spread the word.

The night before the conversion, we will send an alert to all subscribers, make an announcement on social media, and continue to coordinate with our partners and media for wider distribution.

On the morning of the conversion, we will have lighted signboards up at Marquette and 3rd Street, at River Drive and 3rd Street, and LED signage at mid-blocks. Additionally, Davenport Police Officers will be present at the above locations and at Harrison Street during peak travel times.

How do I sign up to receive an Alert Notification?
To receive an alert the night before the conversion and weekly project status updates, visit www.davenportiowa.com/alertiowa and select Street Closures and Lane Reductions (weekly) under available notifications.

What about Public Safety Services?
We are in ongoing communication with police, fire, 911 Dispatch, and EMS services to ensure everyone is prepared for the change.

Will people receive the wrong directions when using mapping services?
City staff is working with Google and WAZE to get the change recognized the day of the conversion.

City staff worked closely with the Downtown Davenport Partnership and businesses to make strategic adjustments to loading zones and parking spaces to better accommodate deliveries while maintaining the same level of parking, and supporting two-way travel.

With more than 4,000 parking spaces across ramps, surface lots, and on-street, downtown will continue to provide convenient parking options for shoppers, visitors, business, and eventgoers.

Newly designated loading zones in curb lanes and alleys make it easier for businesses to receive shipments efficiently and without disrupting traffic.

Bus routes and stops will remain unchanged and the new two-way design fully accommodates public transit.

The conversion will have multiple benefits for those who live, work, shop, and play in downtown Davenport. However, if you are looking for an alternate route through downtown, River Drive remains available.

Find Project Updates Below

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(October 21, 2025) The 3rd Street Resurfacing project is progressing quickly. Over the next two weeks, expect shifting travel lanes while work at the intersection of Gaines and 3rd Streets buttons up, and utility boxouts, ADA ramps and sidewalks, and finish work is completed. Once resurfacing is completed in early to mid-November, work to convert 3rd Street between Marquette and River Drive from one-way to two-way travel will begin.

(October 1, 2025) The phasing for the 3rd Street Resurfacing and Partial Conversion project is moving quickly. Starting on October 2, work will extend through the Gaines Street intersection to Harrison Street. One travel lane and one parking lane will be maintained between Marquette and Harrison until the project is complete in mid-November. Expect lane shifts between the north and south sides of the road until construction is complete.

(September 26, 2025) Phase 3 of the 3rd Street Resurfacing and Partial Conversion project will begin on Tuesday, September 30. During this phase, Gaines Street will be closed between 3rd and 4th Streets to allow for work on the north side of the intersection at 3rd and Gaines Streets. Access to the bridge will be detoured for approximately six weeks while improvements are made.

All roadway work west of Gaines is expected to wrap up in a few weeks and then shift to the roadway east of the Gaines intersection. Watch for more frequent updates as work progresses and Marquette to River Drive nears conversion around mid-November.

Map of the detour for work at the intersection at 3rd and Gaines Streets

(September 19, 2025) The first two in a series of six phases to resurface and convert a portion of 3rd Street from one-way to two-way travel are nearly complete, between Telegraph and Marquette. With only work remaining at the railroad tracks near Division, focus has shifted to the segments between Marquette and Harrison. Watch for updates as work moves into the Gaines St intersection soon.

(July 3, 2025) Great news! We are getting one segment closer to a smoother ride on W 3rd Street as preparations for milling from Division to Marquette begins next week. As prep work gets underway on the new section, the segment between Telegraph and Wilkes will be striped and reopened. To keep things running smoothly, the contractor will continue advanced work on sidewalks and side street intersections in preparation for the next phase from Marquette to Gaines.

(May 30, 2025) Watch for transitioning traffic control on 3rd St between Telegraph and Howell over the next few weeks. One lane of travel will remain open as crews begin applying asphalt in the southern lanes next week. Work will transition from the southern lanes to the northern lanes as the leveling base is applied, followed by the final surface layer across all lanes. Once the final surface layer and concrete boxouts are complete, work will transition to the next section of 3rd St between Howell and Marquette.

(May 16, 2025) Progress is steadily being made on the 3rd Street Resurfacing Project! Earlier this week, the contractor began milling the southern lanes between Telegraph and Howell. Work will shift to the northern lanes once the milling, subbase, leveling base, and final asphalt layer is applied.

To keep things moving, the contractor is also installing sidewalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps while resurfacing is done. Additionally, they are completing concrete pavement and sewer work at intersections to prepare for the next segment of resurfacing, which will take place between Howell and Marquette.

(March 27, 2025) A $14.1 million investment in city roads is set to begin Monday, March 31, starting with the resurfacing of 3rd Street between Telegraph and Harrison. The resurfacing project is the first in a series of projects that will resurface both 3rd and 4th Streets between Telegraph and Harrison, and install the Davenport City-Council approved plan to convert one-way to two-way travel between Marquette and East River Drive.

Resurfacing on 3rd Street will be performed in segments from west to east. Construction will begin with the half-mile segment between Telegraph and Wilkes. Once the resurfacing work is done, the conversion to two-way travel between Marquette and River Drive will start with re-striping the roadway and re-signaling at intersections. Both projects are expected to be complete this fall.

Work to resurface 4th Street may begin as early as this fall and is anticipated to be complete by fall 2026. The conversion from one-way to two-way travel on 4th Street from Marquette to East River Drive will follow resurfacing.

Travel will be reduced to one lane in active work zones. Drivers should expect delays or consider an alternate route while these projects are installed.