‘Thriving through change’ – QC preparing for lots of work

The Quad Cities landscape will be changing in the coming months. There will be major road and infrastructure projects; downtown areas will be transformed; a massive four-season park is coming to Davenport; and Bettendorf continues plans for a big expansion on the northern edge of that city. Those are some of the projects outlined by […]

The Quad Cities landscape will be changing in the coming months. There will be major road and infrastructure projects; downtown areas will be transformed; a massive four-season park is coming to Davenport; and Bettendorf continues plans for a big expansion on the northern edge of that city. Those are some of the projects outlined by five city public works officials who were featured during the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal’s second annual Transportation and Infrastructure Seminar. That Tuesday, April 8, seminar, held at the Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport attracted more than 200 business and local government leaders. The event was sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Valley Construction; Gold Sponsors John Deere and Shive Hattery Architecture-Engineering; Silver Sponsor IMEG; and Bronze Sponsor Corn Belt Ports.   John Lohman, CEO and president of Corridor Media Group, based in North Liberty, Iowa, which publishes the QCBJ and the Corridor Business Journal, said the top goal of Tuesday’s seminar was to give the audience an update on transportation and infrastructure projects in the works and in the planning stages. The Quad Cities landscape is “constantly evolving” because of the numerous projects in the region, said Greg Hass, CEO and president of Valley Construction. He added that the region, much like Valley, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, is “thriving through change.” Many of those projects were outlined during a public works panel discussion at Tuesday’s event. It featured city public works directors Mike Bartels, Rock Island; Nicole Gleason, Davenport (also the assistant city administrator); Brian Schmidt, Bettendorf; and Denver Schmitt, Moline, as well as Tim Kammler, East Moline director of engineering. 

Jeff Nelson, CEO and managing director of MetroLINK, moderated the panel.  In Bettendorf, many of those projects will focus on the continued growth in the northern business section of the community near the TBK Bank Sport Complex. “We are seeing a lot of growth to the west of TBK. … We’re starting to plan for that,” Mr. Schmidt told the QCBJ after the panel discussion.” One of the big projects there will be the construction of a new pedestrian bridge – called the Gateway Bridge – near the sports complex. Bidding for this project is expected to go out Tuesday, April 22. Another project is the Spencer Creek Lift Station. This is a $10.3M major sanitary sewer expansion, providing gravity sewer to the incorporated areas of the city north of the Interstate 80/Middle Road Interchange. Mr. Schmidt said that the area around the sports complex continues to attract more businesses. In fact, Duck Creek Tire & Service announced on its Facebook page on April 4 that it is opening a second location near the Iron Tee Golf complex. The tire service site is expected to open this fall. Other projects Mr. Schmidt outlined including creating “Quiet Zones” at 10 railroad crossings in Bettendorf, a $2.5 million project. There are also plans to widen 53rd Street and Devils Glenn Road. East Moline’s big project will be the start of the Greater Downtown East Moline Revitalization Project. The more than $30 million project’s goal is to make East Moline more walkable, bike-friendly and beautiful. Improvements will be made to The Bend, Rust Belt and downtown areas. The first phase of construction is scheduled to start next week. It will center on streetscaping in The Bend area. Work on 12th Avenue around the Rust Belt will start next year. Bend Boulevard extension work will start in 2027, according to the project’s schedule. “We are just thrilled to be here and start construction. … It’s going to be a top priority of the city and staff,” said. Mr. Kammler.

The East Moline director of engineering also asked for the public’s understanding and patience during the upcoming construction and street work. “Construction is a pain, sometimes. … We look forward to great things to come,” he added. Some of the other projects in the works and planned for the future in the Quad Cities include:

• Davenport: Groundbreaking was held on April 3 for the city’s Main Street Landing project. That 10-acre, four-season park will span between Main Street and the roller dams and will feature play areas, water features, a multi-use space for sports and much more. The park is expected to be done in the fall of 2026.  Mainstreet Landing will be part of a series of riverfront improvements expected to cost more than $27 million. Those improvements will include a massive lighting project on the outside of the Figge Art Museum, a pedestrian bridge railroad crossing and other projects near the river. Some of the other city projects Ms. Gleason outlined included upcoming resurfacing on Fourth Street, and work on 53rd Street at Utica Ridge Road will soon go out for bid.
• Rock Island: An $8.7 million plan to rebuild parts of the downtown area – called Rebuild Downtown Rock Island – continues to move forward, said Mr. Bartels. Some features include: A  “Welcome to Downtown Rock Island” gateway sign across from Schwiebert Park at 1st Avenue and 18th Street; reconstruction and streetscaping of four downtown blocks; decorative lighting and landscaping; two large-scale murals in Arts Alley; 10 new outdoor patio areas at existing restaurants; Rock Island block letters for photo opportunities; conversion of the parking lot at 2nd Avenue and 18th Street into greenspace for recreation and special events; installation of a mini roundabout at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 18th Street. “We hope to bring a lot of reinvestment into the downtown area with this project,” Mr. Bartels said. Other Rock Island projects include $2 million in pavement patching, and road work on 30th Street, 20th Street and 31st Avenue.
• Moline: The city is making plans for improvements to the riverfront. That new Moline riverfront plan focuses on creating a new riverfront area that attracts visitors and offers many amenities to the area bordered by the Mississippi River on the north, Seventh Avenue on the south, 23th Street on the east and 18th Street on the west. A secondary area expands the area east to Moline’s 25th Street. Mr. Schmitt also outlined several major road projects planned for Moline. They are planned for 16th Street, 30th Avenue, 19th Avenue and 34th Street. Projects in the works for next year include creating Quiet Zones”at railroad crossings, extending the bike path and exterior and interior remodeling at Moline City Hall.

During Tuesday’s events, city officials were also asked about the potential impacts the ongoing federal budget cuts could have on local projects.

Several said they are concerned, but are hopeful their projects will move forward. For instance, the Greater Downtown East Moline Revitalization Project is being funded by a $23.7 million federal RAISE grant. Mr. Kammler said that federal money has already been approved for the project, and city officials are still confident it will come through. However, he added that they have “their ears to the ground” listening for any possible changes in the grant status. Others said they are in wait-and-see mode on federal funding. “We are still moving forward. … Being in a ‘Blue State,’ you never know,” Mr. Schmitt said.