The John Deere Road expansion project, which as previously reported is delayed until fall, will support a growing business corridor of John Deere Road that is getting more and more attention.
On Tuesday, March 26th, 2013, Moline aldermen met to discuss two new additions to the east end of John Deere Road, which they call the North Rock River Corridor.
"It by far is Moline's largest cohesive development," says Shawn Christ, Land Development Manager for the city of Moline. "There's a long history of planning in this site and it's exciting to see it expanding to its potential now."
As early as this spring, Sam's Club could be breaking ground to build a warehouse store and gas station next to Menards.
In addition, Trinity Regional Health System plans to build a medical center in the Hiland Addition off 53rd Street, near Hiland Toyota.
The businesses will join others that are already calling the corridor a success.
"We've added probably 50% more people and increased our sales staff by double," says RC Rogers with Zimmerman Honda, which will be Sam's Club neighbor on the other side from Menards. "Our traffic count here is unbelievable compared to where we were and it's supposed to get nothing but better."
In addition, Rogers says they have a larger space and longer hours to support growth.
And Christ says there is plenty of growth still to come.
"We still have a number of sites that will be open to medium-sized tennants and then hopefully some service uses and then restaurants," says Christ. "We'd still love to see some restaurants go in that area."
Expansion just off John Deere Road is in sync with the expansion project about to take place on it. A $47 million project set to start in fall 2013 will widen John Deere Road and is expected to create 600 construction jobs, as previously reported. It will take about three years to complete.
Christ says as development continues and the widening project begins, they'll also be trying to make sure the corridor is not just driver-friendly, but pedestrian and cyclist friendly as well.