Early morning update: Play ball!

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By Rick Rector | Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |

Good Tuesday, Quad-Cities. At 6 a.m., it’s a breezy 43 degrees in the Q-C. Major League Baseball throws out the first pitch today with a game between Boston vs. Oakland in Tokyo. For the remainder of the league, opening day is March 30.

While you were sleeping, splatters of molten lava were ejected from Hawaii's Halemaumau Crater for the first time since 1982. Officials with the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory say some of the particles have landed on the rim of the crater. Scientists say the gas from the new vent at Halemaumau is thick with ash, making the plume from the 100-foot-wide vent appear brown. Officials are monitoring the activity, and say aviation agencies have been warned that the ash may threaten aircraft in the area. No injuries were reported.

Closer to home, Davenport street crews are out street sweeping because of the amount of sand and salt mixture used on streets this winter. Residents are allowed to sweep their sidewalk and driveway debris into the street. Also they can rake the boulevards into the street. Chunks of asphalt or street can also be placed in the curb line. To find out when you neighborhood will be cleaned, CLICK HERE

Today’s National Weather Service forecast

There will be isolated sprinkles before 7 a.m. then mostly cloudy and breezy with a high near 59 degrees. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 31 degrees.

Area river levels

To keep track of local river levels, CLICK HERE. The Mississippi River, which has been falling slightly in the Quad-Cities, is rising again. At 2 a.m., the Mississippi River at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad-Cities still is well below flood stage at 9.51 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet. But the river is expected to rise to 10.1 feet by Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, National Weather Service, or NWS, flood warnings for area streams and tributaries continues.

At 3:30 a.m., the Rock River at Joslin, Ill., was at 12.44 feet. Flood stage is 12 feet. Minor flooding is occurring. The forecast is for the Rock to reach 12.8 feet by early Saturday afternoon then fall. Water is affecting low-lying areas, some summer cottages and Lundeen’s Landing campground.

At 3:30 a.m., the Rock at Moline is below flood stage at 11.66 feet and will remain steady around 11.8 feet into next week. Flood stage in Moline is 12 feet.

At 3 a.m., the Wapsipinicon River in DeWitt remains at 12.7 feet and is causing major flooding. The river should hold steady near 12.7 feet through Wednesday then drop below flood stage by Friday morning. Flood stage is 11 feet. At 12.5 feet, overland flooding occurs with water affecting residences along the river between Wheatland and Calamus and businesses along the river near Calamus. Homes along old U.S. 61, county road E63 north of the river near Toronto and the lowest roads in Buena Vista also are affected.

At 4 a.m., the Cedar River near Conesville, Iowa, has dropped a foot since yesterday to 13.02 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet. Minor flooding is occurring. The Cedar will fall to flood stage by Wednesday morning and continue to fall. Water is affecting Edgewater Road in Conesville, yards and access roads of residences along Iowa Highway 22, lowest sections of campgrounds just north of I-80 along the river, the lowest sections of Jack Shuger Memorial Park in Moscow and 152nd Street north of County Road F70. Saulsbury Road, Lindle, Keokuk and Elder avenues and Hoot Owl Junction are also affected by the high water.

At 4 a.m., the Iowa River at Columbus Junction, Iowa, also is falling fast and is at 19.1 feet with minor flooding occurring. Flood stage is 19 feet. The river will fall below flood stage later this morning.

At 4 a.m., the Iowa River in Wapello, Iowa, was at 21.43. Flood stage in Wapello is 20 feet. Minor flooding is occurring. The River will fall below flood stage by Thursday evening. Water is affecting residences near the U.S. 61 bridge.

See news happening? Share it

Stuck in traffic? See an accident or fire on your way to work? Drop us an e-mail at newsroom@qctimes.com or give us a call at (563) 383-2235 if you see breaking news such as house fires, traffic accidents and road conditions, street closures/detours and water main breaks in the Quad-Cities region.

Road work

Here is a partial list of road construction work in your area. CLICK HERE to view a complete list.

Davenport

— 67th Street between Eastern Avenue and Jersey Ridge Road closed indefinitely because of excessive mud.

Moline

— North Shore Drive closed between 16th and 26th streets.

— South Shore Drive closed east and west of 27th Street.

— 60th Street closed south of Green Valley Park.

— North Shore Drive closed between 48th Avenue and Interstate 74

— Avenue of the Cities will be closed between 27th to 34th streets for a sewer and road construction project. Traffic will use 12th Avenue detour.

Rock Island

— Blackhawk Road (Illinois 5) road reconstruction project affects the area between 24th to 38th streets. Although the road will remain open during the project, drivers should expect delays and should be alert for flaggers who will be directing traffic past the various works operations.

Cedar County

-- Interstate 80, removing and replacing damaged sections. Patching work will be accomplished in the evening hours between 7 p.m. Monday nights to 6 a.m. Friday mornings; and between 9 p.m. Sunday nights to 6 a.m. Monday mornings. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction throughout the work zone. Motorists are urged to remain alert and use caution when traveling through these interstate areas. The work is scheduled for completion in May.

Henry County

— Osco Road from Illinois 81 to U.S. 6 until May 1. Max gross vehicular weight is 10 tons. All permit loads prohibited. Slow down and watch for heavy congestion in the construction area. Use alternate routes when possible.

— Grange Road from Geneseo to Illinois 92 until May 1. Max gross vehicular weight is 10 tons. All permit loads prohibited. Slow down and watch for heavy congestion in the construction area. Use alternate routes when possible.

— Illinois 82 from the Green River to 2.8 miles north of U.S. 6 until June 1. Traffic will be restricted to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals. Oversize loads restricted 15 feet wide.

— Cleveland Road 250 feet east of Illinois 84 beginning March 31 until April 4. Both lanes closed for crossing repair. Watch for heavy congestion in the construction area. Use alternate routes when possible.

Mercer County

— Illinois 94 from 1.9 miles north of Illinois 17 to Edwards River until Oct. 17. Traffic will be restricted to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals. Oversize loads restricted to max width of 10 feet 6 inches. Expect delays.

Rock Island County

— Illinois 5 at Illinois 84 until Nov. 15. Traffic restricted to one lane in each direction as each half of the bridge is removed and replaced. Drivers are strongly urged to use extreme caution when driving through construction areas. Slow down and watch for workers.

Scott County

-- Interstates 80, 280 and 74, removing and replacing damaged sections. Patching work will be accomplished in the evening hours between 7 p.m. Monday nights to 6 a.m. Friday mornings; and between 9 p.m. Sunday nights to 6 a.m. Monday mornings. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction throughout the work zone. Motorists are urged to remain alert and use caution when traveling through these interstate areas. The work is scheduled for completion in May.

Whiteside County

— Freeport Road from Sterling to Pilgram Road until May 1. Northbound and southbound lanes closed at times. Traffic reduced to a maximum weight of 11 tons.

Muscatine County

— U.S. 61 will be reduced to one lane in both directions with a 12 feet width limit in both directions at Muscatine County Road G28 for bridge construction until Nov. 26.

Plot a pothole

Had your teeth rattled by a car-eating pothole? First, call the city where the pothole is located. Here are the phone numbers: Davenport: 326-7923; Bettendorf: 344-4088; Moline: 797-0425; Rock Island: 732-2200; East Moline: 752-1573. Second, go online CLICK HERE and add it to our pothole map. Find out where the worst potholes are in the Quad-Cities.

Check out flight times

Flying? CLICK HERE to check flight status, wait times and more for regional airports, including the Quad-City International Airport in Moline and O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.