Middle/Forest Grove intersection closing Feb. 21 for final phase work

The final phase of the $11.5 million reconstruction of Bettendorf’s Forest Grove Drive will begin Tuesday, Feb. 21 in front of the TBK Bank Sports Complex. The intersection of Forest Grove Drive and Middle Road is closing that day to allow Valley Construction crews to begin the final leg of the project, the City of […]

The final phase of the $11.5 million reconstruction of Bettendorf’s Forest Grove Drive will begin Tuesday, Feb. 21 in front of the TBK Bank Sports Complex. The intersection of Forest Grove Drive and Middle Road is closing that day to allow Valley Construction crews to begin the final leg of the project, the City of Bettendorf announced Wednesday, Feb. 14 along with detours around the roadwork. With the Middle/Forest intersection closing, access to the Interstate 80 interchange a mile north on Middle Road will be affected. However, a block north of the closed Middle/Forest intersection, the city is opening the intersection of Competition Drive and Middle Road to help detour traffic. As part of the progress made on the road project last year, Valley Construction completed the extension of Competition Drive east from the existing sports complex and surrounding businesses – and into the new developing additions to the sports complex that include the Iron Tee golf facility. Also helping with the latest round of detours, Valley finished work on Forest Grove past the intersection with Friendship Path – the entrance/exit into the sports complex farthest to the west.    Now, traffic from the east can access the new spur of Competition Drive from Forest Grove Drive east of the closed intersection with Middle Road. In addition, traffic from the west on Forest Grove Drive is diverted to Competition Drive via Friendship Path. North-south traffic on Middle Road south of the closed intersection will be detoured at 53rd Street or Hopewell Avenue. Hopewell and 53rd both connect with Devils Glen Road to the west – which in turn connects with Forest Grove Road to the west of the sports complex. Hopewell also extends west to Criswell Street., which can be used to reach Forest Grove Drive to the north – east of the closed intersection.

In a recent QCBJ update on the project, City of Bettendorf engineer Brent Morlok said this final phase should be completed by the end of 2023. “There may be some minor work spilling over into ’24 -- maybe some trail work or landscaping restoration -- but all the roadways will be open by the end of ’23,” Mr. Morlok said. Included in this final phase is construction of a new roundabout at Forest Grove & Middle, which will help serve as a new gateway into the city from the north. Originally, the intersection closure was expected in January, but Mr. Morlok said delays with the Iowa Department of Transportation bidding process led to a later-than-expected start to construction last summer. However, Mr. Morlok said, Valley Construction was able to take advantage of a milder-than-expected winter to get the project close to the original schedule with new sewer installations to accommodate the growing corridor. Final paving should be back on track for April 2023, he added. The widening and upgrading of Forest Grove began in 2015 as a joint federally funded project between Bettendorf and Davenport to upgrade both Forest Grove and Veterans Memorial Parkway. The existing parts of the TBK Bank Sports Complex opened in 2018. The Iron Tee, plus additional sports fields, are scheduled to open in Spring 2024 after roadwork is completed. The new sports center additions east of Middle Road and north of Forest Grove Drive also will include several commercial developments. The city’s project website is at www.bettendorf.org/ForestGroveDrive.