First Avenue Bridge traffic to be detoured during floodgate tests

CEDAR RAPIDS — Traffic into and out of downtown on the First Avenue Bridge will be affected Friday during floodgate testing.

The First Avenue Bridge over the Cedar River is set to be closed from Third Street West to First Street East from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Detour signs will be in place.

The city is testing the roller gate that has been installed near First Street East outside City Hall. The gate is 12 feet high and 6 feet thick and is designed to be rolled across the street in the event of a flood as part of the city’s permanent flood protection system.

The city is installing another floodgate on the west bank on the river on the First Avenue Bridge.

Besides doing floodgate testing, crews are scheduled to re-stripe the road.