Ellis Boulevard reopens, but J Street SW bridge closes

UPDATE: Ellis Boulevard NW has reopened after an eight-hour closure due to flooding, but the high water forced the closure of another street early Thursday.

Crews shut down the bridge on J Street SW around 8 a.m. when Prairie Creek topped the roadway, officials said. The city's Public Works Maintenance Manager, Craig Hanson, the city's public works maintenance manager, said flooding there would not threaten homes and is not expected to threaten businesses.

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An ice jam caused water from the Cedar River to run onto Ellis Boulevard NW on Wednesday night. Police closed down the road from Ellis Lane to 18th Street NW around 8:30 p.m. The street was reopened just after 4 a.m. Thursday when the flooding subsided, authorities said.

Hanson said there is a low probability that another ice jam will form in Cedar Rapids.

“In general past history, once the ice goes through Cedar Rapids, it's done for the season,” Hanson said. “Could it happen again? Anything is possible.”

Manhattan-Robbins Lake Park, Fish Court SW and the boat ramps in the city remain closed because of debris and ice. Hanson said the river is high enough that some ice has collected along the railroad bridge connecting First Street NW to the Quaker plant. But chances are slim that a complete ice jam forms there, he said.

Indian Creek in southeast Cedar Rapids is slightly out of its banks, but Hanson said the only thing that could cause major flooding there is a 2- or 3-inch rain, which is not in the forecast. He said Dry Creek in northeast Cedar Rapids is at its banks, but is not predicted to go much higher.

The Cedar River is expected to reach the 12 feet flood stage late Sunday or early Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Hanson said his team is planning for a crest of 16 to 18 feet on the Cedar River next Wednesday.