Davenport flood detours cause headaches for some (2024)

For Davenport businesses on River Drive, the hottest topic of conversation from customers is how difficult it is to get there.

Much of River Drive in Davenport is closed this week because of a 20-foot Mississippi River flood caused by heavy rainfall north of the region.

"That is the topic of conversation everyday," said Shelly Ellis, part-owner of Java Java Café on East River Drive. "'It took me 15 extra minutes to get here.' 'I got lost here.' 'I took the wrong turn.' Everyday."

River Drive's closure this week means motorists trying to cross town near the river must navigate narrow residential roads that don't always intuitively connect or take the long way via Locust Street and Harrison Street.

But Java Java has been in a similar road closure jam for months. Since winter, lanes on River Drive in front of Java Java have been closed or torn up because of a storm sewer improvement project that aims to keep that area of River Drive open for all but the worst Mississippi River flooding.

As a coffee shop, Java Java relies on being a convenient stop for customers, Ellis said. With less traffic moving by and road closures making it a hassle to get there, Ellis estimates her business has been down about 60% since construction on River Drive began.

But if the construction, once finished, means River Drive closes less frequently during flooding, she'll be happy, she said.

One of the main objectives of Davenport's Flood Mitigation Plan, approved by the Davenport City Council in 2021, is to keep major transportation routes, especially River Drive, open longer when the Mississippi River floods.

Now, when the Mississippi River rises, river water backs up the into the storm sewer system and rises from the grates to flood River Drive. The standing water forces closures of major east-west thoroughfares even before the river tops the sea wall.

That causes changing and sometimes confusing detours. One major ask of downtown businesses during the city's flood survey of 2020 was to establish more consistent flood detour routes.

The city's project to lay new storm sewer pipe and gates from Third Street to Tremont Avenue would allow the city to shut off the storm sewer to the river during flood events. Once the project is completed, it is supposed to keep the intersections of River Drive at Third and Fourth Streets open until river stage 22.5 feet, about five feet higher than when it currently closes at roughly 17 or 18 feet.

The East River Drive storm sewer project was just weeks shy of wrapping up when the flood hit, meaning the roadway did not see the flood-fighting benefits of the project.

A second flood mitigation storm sewer project at River Drive and Marquette Street also halted because of flooding. That one is designed to keep the intersection open with minimal staff intervention until flood stage 18 feet, about three feet higher than without the project.

The city also announced it received a $13 million federal transportation grant this spring to perform road raises and intersection improvements that aim to keep more east-west routes open. Included in the project plan is raising River Drive at Mound Street and East River Drive near the Village of East Davenport.

The river is expected to hover at about 20 feet until the end of the week, when it will start to gradually fall, meaning the closures will continue through at least the weekend.

Close to Java Java is Polished Hair Lounge, at 735 Federal St.

When it floods, some clients opt to delay their appointments to avoid navigating the road closures, owner Tricia Collins said. Polished makes sure to tell clients how to get to the salon and urges them to allow extra time to navigate detours.

"Every time it floods, it's a loss of some magnitude," she said.

Collins said she is cautiously optimistic that the River Drive storm sewer project, once finished, will make her salon easier to get to when it does flood.

For destination spots like the Isabel Bloom gift shop at 736 Federal Street, co-owner and sculptor Donna Young said she doesn't think there's been a decline in business because gift-seekers and tours typically seek out the shop.

"If you need a gift, you are going to figure out how to get here, but coffee shops? There are other coffee shops," Young said.

Visit Quad Cities President and CEO Dave Herrell said clear detour routes and connectivity projects the city is working on will be important to create a more seamless visitor experience in the Quad-Cities even during a flood.

Some businesses downtown decided to close their doors for at least a few days. At the Freight House, The Diner and Antonella's are temporarily closed because of flooding, according to their Facebook pages.

Next door, a new African restaurant called I Love FuFu opened for one day in the former Taste of Ethiopia location before river water surrounded the building and forced them to close temporarily.

Regina Dore, the owner of the Iowa City-based restaurant, said they will likely lose extra perishable food they stocked up on for the restaurant's opening and additional staff hired won't be able to work immediately.

Dore said they frequently fill orders and serve customers from the Quad-Cities who come up to their Iowa City location, and said they'd been thinking for a while about expanding to the area. When the owners of Taste of Ethiopia wanted to retire and reached out to her, it seemed like the perfect fit.

"We are still excited and happy about it," Dore said. "In business there's always losses you will come across now and then. Hopefully, the flood will go away soon so we can operate."

On East Third Street, behind street closure signs, managers at restaurants Lopiez and Ruby's said they haven't seen a dip in business since Davenport closed River Drive at Third Street.

But they do field plenty of calls wondering if they're open and where to park, both managers said.

At the Village Corner Deli, 1030 Mound St., manager Christepher Williams said he doesn't think River Drive's closure has affected business too much. He called the deli's customers pretty loyal and resilient, and said the deli stayed busy even when a water main break closed the intersection outside their business for a few days in June.

But, the flood closures are a frequent customer conversation topic while the water is up.

"They (customers) complain all the time. It gives them something to talk about over lunch," Williams said. "But they still come."