06/27/25
Flood resilience improvements on Marquette and River Dr are nearly complete! The intersection has re-opened! Intermittent lane reductions are possible south of the intersection through July 7 for finish work. While challenges from the river and rain caused some disruptions to the schedule, the stormwater valve improvements will provide lasting benefits, allowing River Dr to remain open longer without staff intervention during high river levels.
04/11/25
Great news! The flood mitigation project at W River Dr and Marquette St is in its final phase. In this final phase, Marquette St will be closed south of River Dr to just past the railroad tracks. To access the boat ramp, drop-off recycling, and other park amenities, motorists will need to use the following routes.
- Eastbound River Dr: Use the temporary access drive on River Dr just east of Marquette or Gaines St to Beiderbecke.
- Westbound River Dr: Use Gaines to Beiderbecke.
- Alert: Semis, buses, and larger vehicles attempting to access Marquette south of the intersection or Beiderbecke should use the temporary access point on Eastbound River Dr due to tight turning on Gaines.
Work on this final phase is estimated to be complete by late May to mid-June, pending weather.
Once complete, storm sewer and valve improvements will enhance the city’s flood plan, allowing the city to keep the intersection open with minimal staff intervention or pumping through approximately river stage 18.0 FT.
10/11/24
The first phase of the flood resilience project at Marquette and River Dr is now complete and Marquette between River Dr and 2nd St has reopened. The project has now moved into the next phase, requiring closure of the right eastbound lane on River Dr just west of Marquette. The closure will last approximately one week as crews prepare to make storm pipe and manhole improvements south of the intersection. Once work south of the intersection begins Marquette will be closed south of River Drive. Watch for changing traffic control as work on this significant stormwater system redesign and improvement continues.
09/06/24
Work on the flood resilience project at Marquette and River Dr was temporarily suspended this past spring due to subsurface conditions identified. July flooding further delayed the project’s completion. With river levels finally dropping back to and below 7 FT, storm sewer pipes where work is being performed are sufficiently clear to resume work. Watch for updates in a few weeks as work progresses.
03/22/24
A second high-priority flood resilience project will get underway soon! Preceded by utility updates, work at Marquette Street and River Drive will make storm sewer and valve improvements to stop backflow from the Mississippi River into the storm sewer system and the road at this location. Once this project is complete, the City can keep the intersection open with minimal staff intervention or pumping through stage 18.0 FT. This will increase the flood protection at this location to 3.5 feet higher than without the project.
The initial construction phase will require the closure of the north lanes on River Drive and the complete closure of Marquette Street between 2nd Street and River Drive. One lane of travel in each direction on River Drive will be maintained. Once this stage is complete, work will flip to the southern lanes and close Marquette Street south of River Drive, with a short detour to access the basketball courts, dog-off-leash park, and Marquette Boat Ramp.
Watch for periodic updates as the project progresses. All work is estimated to be completed by late fall.
12/27/23
The City has been awarded a grant for this project. Expected to begin late winter/early Spring 2024, this project will also make storm sewer and valve improvements that prevent backflow from the Mississippi River into the storm sewer system. Once this project is complete, the City can keep the intersection open without staff intervention or pumping through stage 18.0 FT.
07/31/23
In April 2023, Davenport City Council approved submission of a FEMA Legislative Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant under the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for storm sewer improvements and a potential road raise at River Dr and Marquette St to keep the intersection open longer and without operational intervention/cost during Mississippi River flooding and heavy rain events.
The grant request is currently under review. In consideration of the grant, a fifteen-day comment period has been opened beginning July 31, 2023 through August 15, 2023. Public Comments may be submitted to FEMA. Find the full Final Public Notice and contact information at this link.
The total cost of the project is estimated at roughly $1.69 million. With Federal grant funds of roughly $1.27 million and State grant funds of $169 thousand, the City’s cost-share for the work would be $253 thousand.
Watch for updates on the grant and project this fall.
This project is one of the key early implementation projects identified in the Flood Resiliency Study accepted by Council in 2021.