Two crashes in the Illinois-bound lanes of I-74 tied up traffic in Bettendorf Thursday afternoon, July 23.
Illinois-bound traffic on I-74 was being diverted off the roadway at Middle Road after the first crash around 4 p.m.
Iowa Department of Transportation cameras showed the wreck near the Middle Road exit on the roadway. A police car could be seen in the middle of the interstate, directing traffic off the roadway. Initial reports indicated that multiple cars were involved in the crash and several people may have been injured.
Bettendorf Police were asking drivers to stay off I-74 southbound because of the crash.
"Traffic is exiting at the Middle Road exit and cannot cross over the bridge at this time," police said around 4 p.m.
Traffic at Middle Road was reopened just after 5 p.m., according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Another crash near Spruce Hills Drive was reported around 4:30 p.m.; that crash was causing additional traffic back ups. A marquee on the interstate said "Road closed ahead. Follow Detour." Some cars were driving through the median to get into the other lanes of traffic in that area.
According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, the crash was causing a blockage in the right lane.
A short time later, the Iowa DOT announced that the interstate had reopened.