City Seeking Public Input on 8th Avenue Bridge Replacement Project

City Seeking Public Input on 8th Avenue Bridge Replacement Project

The City of Cedar Rapids is seeking public feedback on the type and features of the proposed 8th Avenue Bridge replacement over the Cedar River as part of permanent flood control measures.

The project includes replacing and elevating the 8th Avenue Bridge, which would be incorporated into the permanent Flood Control System of levees, gates, removable walls, and permanent walls on both sides of the Cedar River.

TAKE THE SURVEY: www.cityofcr.com/floodcontrol

The public is invited to give feedback on aesthetic elements to help aid in the design of the future bridge. Public preference will help provide direction on bridge features during the design phase. The survey will run until December 31, 2016. Comments can also be emailed to floodcontrol@cedar-rapids.org.

About the Project
Raising/replacing the 80-year-old 8th Avenue Bridge will preserve a heavily travelled connection between both sides of the river in the case of significant flood events, which typically require the closure of all but the upper deck of the I-380 Bridge.

The existing 8th Avenue Bridge currently requires closure at a flood stage of 21 feet, which is below the 100 year flood elevation. The project will replace the existing bridge and will raise it approximately 14 feet to pass the 2008 flood volume.

Goals of the project include:

• Provide an additional emergency route across the river to improve flood fighting and other emergency response
• Maintain access to hospitals, the police department, and I-380 interchange
• Reduce congestion and improve safety on the interstate during a flood
• Save money by eliminating the need to build flood protection around an existing bridge, including closure gates

Preliminary schedule includes: Utility relocations in 2018-2019; bridge construction in 2020-2022.