DAVENPORT, Iowa — The City of Davenport is ready to start construction on 3rd and 4th Street in downtown, which includes changing them from one-way to two-way traffic. However, there's a bump in the road: some aldermen want city council to reconsider parts of the plan.
At the Tuesday, June 4 city management meeting, city staff updated the council on the project, which city planners worked on for several years. The plans required federal grants, coordination with the Iowa DOT and lining up contracts for construction work.
Davenport City Council approved the two-way conversion in December 2023. That's before newer aldermen like Tim Dunn joined the council.
"I don't really understand how you guys think it's going to work. I really don't," Dunn said.
Dunn added that two-way streets could be a problem for first responders.
"Not a fan of it, as far as fire, police, EMS. I don't see where it's gonna work. I don't see the construction view on it, where you have to work on these high rises, distribution down there," he said.
4th Ward Alderwoman Jade Burkholder is also new to city council and isn't a fan of the plan either.
"Hearing from the residents, this is not what our city wants," Burkholder said.
Both Tim Dunn and Burkholder are asking for more time to discuss the plan as a council.
"I think this needs to be a work session, I think this needs to be put on the agenda after that. I don't agree with a lot of what's being said," Burkholder said.
The project includes a reconstruction of both streets and improvements to River Drive between 3rd and 4th Street. The reconstruction is funded by more than $7 million in federal grants, and Mayor Mike Matson is worried a delay could cause problems.
"I am very concerned and nervous if we would have to go back to them at the last minute, after all of this has been developed, and say 'we're pulling back and we don't want your assistance,'" Matson said.
City Engineering Director Clay Merritt echoed the mayor's concerns.
"There is processes when you have a federal grant that you need to follow. We need to figure out if we make a change to the traffic configuration, where in that process do we then start and stop, and then start over again. We would need to work with the Iowa DOT to figure out that," Merritt said.
City council is now planning a work session for June 15 so new aldermen can learn more about the project and what would happen if the council sticks with one-way streets. Members will then decide whether to vote on any changes at a future council meeting.
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