Overnight Cedar Rapids street closure set for floodgate installation

CEDAR RAPIDS — A downtown segment of First Avenue E will close starting Tuesday evening as work continues on the city’s permanent flood control system.

A floodgate — over 11 feet tall and 82 feet long, weighing more than 80,000 pounds — is being installed to roll across First Avenue E when a flood threatens downtown. A similar gate will be installed later on the avenue on the west bank of the Cedar River.

A section of First Avenue E will be closed starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday into early Wednesday, according to the city of Cedar Rapids. First Avenue will be closed between Third Street W and First Street E.

Westbound traffic on First Avenue E will be detoured to Seventh Street NE and onto Eighth Avenue SE. Also, traffic on First Avenue E at Second Street E will be narrowed to one lane.

First Avenue and First Street E is expected to be fully reopened by 2 a.m. Wednesday.