Photos: Cedar Rapids floodgate test

Cedar Rapids’ First Avenue floodgate was closed Tuesday morning to test the seal. The 57,000-pound gate, which is stored in place, was installed in December 2022. It can be closed in about five minutes.

Riley Bear with Michels directs a PVC rig containing a garden hose and spray nozzle as workers test the joint between the seal and the First Avenue floodgate in southeast Cedar Rapids Tuesday. The floodgate is 12 feet high and 82 feet long. The floodgate weighs 57,000 pounds and is six feet thick. The roller gate is stored in place. Workers on-site said the gate can be rolled into place in about five minutes. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Greg Reininga with CertaPro Painters paints a lower section of the flood wall as workers test the joint between the seal and the gate in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The massive floodgate was rolled across First Avenue. The floodgate is 12 feet high, and 82 feet long. The floodgate weighs 57,000 pounds and is six feet thick. The roller gate is stored in place. Workers on-site said the gate can be rolled into place in about five minutes. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Riley Bear with Michels directs a PVC rig containing a garden hose and spray nozzle as workers test the joint between the seal and the First Avenue floodgate in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The floodgate is 12 feet tall and 82 feet long. It weighs 57,000 pounds and is six feet thick. The roller gate is stored in place. Workers on-site said the gate can be rolled into place in about five minutes. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Crews work along the First Avenue Bridge in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The bridge was closed during construction and traffic was detoured. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Riley Bear with Michels directs a PVC rig containing a garden hose and spray nozzle as workers test the joint between the seal and the First Avenue floodgate in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The floodgate is 12 feet tall and 82 feet long. It weighs 57,000 pounds and is six feet thick. The roller gate is stored in place. Workers on-site said the gate can be rolled into place in about five minutes. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

First Avenue was closed as workers closed the floodgate and performed tests in southeast Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. The floodgate is 12 feet tall and 82 feet long. It weighs 57,000 pounds and is six feet thick. The roller gate is stored in place. Workers on-site said the gate can be rolled into place in about five minutes. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Cars are detoured while crews work to close the First Avenue Bridge floodgate Tuesday morning. The gate, which weighs 57,000 pounds was closed to test the joint between the seal and the gate. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

First Avenue was closed as workers closed the floodgate and performed tests in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday, September 26, 2023. The floodgate is 12 feet high, and 82 feet long. The floodgate weighs 57,000 pounds and is six feet thick. The roller gate is stored in place. Workers on-site said the gate can be rolled into place in about five minutes. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)