DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Monday, March 18, construction is set to begin on a new roundabout at the foot of the Government Bridge in Davenport. The bridge will be closed to traffic until mid-July when construction is expected to be complete.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, roundabouts decrease deadly crashes by 90% and reduce collisions as a whole by 76%. Transportation officials also say roundabouts eliminate the time you wait at red lights and stop signs.
However, one Davenport business owner is concerned about how the project will impact business. Aaron Ickes is a partner with Great River Brewery located right down the street from the bridge. He's worried the construction will slow down business when the brewery opens in a month.
"I think it's gonna be tough," Ickes said. "I mean, a lot of traffic from Illinois comes over that bridge, and now they're gonna have to go down to Centennial or I-74."
Ickes may not be a fan at the moment, but he sees the long-term benefit. "I'm all for roundabouts," he says. "Personally, I think once you learn how to use them, they're much easier to work with."
The Rock Island Arsenal Department of Public Works is in charge of the project.
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