First Avenue Will Close Downtown on Monday for Arrival of East Floodgate

Construction continues on the First Avenue East Floodgate as part of the Cedar River Flood Control System. On Monday, December 5, 1st Avenue will be closed between 3rd Street West and 1st Street East, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and running through the afternoon. The closure was scheduled to minimize any impact on commuter traffic. Signed detours will be in place during the road closure. The closure is required for the setup of traffic control, setup of a crane, delivery of the gate, placement of the gate on the north side of 1st Avenue, and breaking down and removal of the crane from the construction site.

The floodgate stands 11’-3” tall, 82’ long, 5’-6” thick, weighs over 80,000 pounds and requires a 350-ton crane for installation. When completed, the floodgate will be able to roll across 1st Avenue, lock into place, and keep flood water out of the downtown area. A similar gate is planned for the west side of the bridge.

A full list of flood protection measures undertaken since 2008 can be found on the City’s website: CityofCR.com/FloodControl.