Early morning update: Cold and wet

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By Rick Rector | Thursday, March 27, 2008 |

Good Thursday, Quad-Cities. At 6 a.m. it’s 39 degrees with light sprinkles in the Q-C. Road crews will be out from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Friday and Monday working on a new message sign on Interstate 74 in Moline. One lane of Iowa-bound I-74 between 1 mile north of John Deere Road and the Avenue of the Cities will be closed during this time. Be alert for workers and sudden traffic slowdowns.

While you were sleeping: New world records set in swimming

Libby Trickett set a world record in the 100-meter freestyle at the Australian swim championships in Sydney, finishing in 52.88 seconds. Trickett, formerly Libby Lenton and competing for the first time under her married name, beat the 53.30 mark set by Germany's Britta Steffen in Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 2, 2006. It was the second world record of the night at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre — Eamon Sullivan earlier set one in the 50 free, finishing in 21.41 seconds.

Bettendorf is looking for goodwill ambassadors

Bettendorf Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteers to serve as park ambassadors to patrol city parks this summer. The parks ambassador program is a concept implemented by a few other communities in the nation. It involves a group of citizen volunteers who have pledged their time to help improve the quality and safety of the parks system in their community. Ambassadors will help the city of Bettendorf by patrolling the city’s 22 parks. Ambassadors watch for vandalism, provide information and directions for park users, provide access to first aid if needed and act as “goodwill ambassadors” for the city. They patrol the parks in a vehicle provided by the city and also by walking through the parks. Although the ambassadors work closely with and provide an extra set of eyes and ears for the Bettendorf police department, they are not an enforcement agency but are there to remind people of the park rules. They have access to a police frequency radio and 911 emergency so that if a serious situation is encountered they have instant access to assistance. The city provides each volunteer with a shirt and hat for easy identification by the general public. Patrol shifts run every evening, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Each ambassador generally works one night a week and is placed in teams of two whenever possible. If requested, husband and wife teams can be set up. Anyone interested in applying may pick up an application at Bettendorf City Hall, 1609 State St., Bettendorf, or at the Herbert D. Goettsch Community Center, 2204 Grant St. or they may call (563) 344-7170.

And in Davenport ...

Here’s your chance to offer input on the future of Fejervary Park. A meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Davenport Parks and Recreation office (Wiese Building), 1757 W.12 St.

Today’s National Weather Service forecast

Rain is likely before 7 a.m., then periods of rain and snow. Some thunder also is possible. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent. The high will be near 38 degrees. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible. Tonight there’s a chance of rain and snow before 1 a.m., then a slight chance of snow, with a low around 27 degrees.

Area river levels continue to drop

To keep track of local river levels, CLICK HERE.

A flood warning is still out for the Wapsipinicon River in DeWitt, Iowa and the Rock River in Joslin, Ill., but the Iowa and Cedar rivers in Eastern Iowa in have dropped below flood stage and are no longer under a flood watch. Meanwhile, the Mighty Mississippi keeps rolling on well below flood stage.

At 3 a.m., the Wapsipinicon River in DeWitt was at 12.4 feet and falling. Moderate flooding is occurring. The river should fall back below flood stage by Saturday morning. Flood stage is 11 feet. At 12.5 feet, overland flooding occurs with water affecting residences along the river between Wheatland and Calamus, Iowa 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, Iowa also are affected.

County Engineer Todd Kinney says signs warning drivers of water over the road are posted at four spots in Clinton County: 178th Avenue south of 298th Street, 190th Avenue south of 298th Street, 247th Avenue south of 278th Street, and 262nd Avenue south of 270th Street.

At 3:30 a.m., the Rock River at Joslin was at 12.41 feet. Flood stage is 12 feet. Minor flooding is occurring. The forecast is for the Rock to reach 12.5 feet early Friday 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 was below flood stage at 11.55 feet and is holding steady. Flood stage in Moline is 12 feet.

At 4 a.m., the Iowa River in Wapello, Iowa, was at 19.48 feet, a drop of almost a foot. Flood stage in Wapello is 20 feet.

At 2 a.m., the Mississippi River is holding steady in the Quad-Cities. The Mississippi River at Lock and Dam 15 still is well below its flood stage of 15 feet at 9.32 feet.

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-City region.

Road work

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

Davenport

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

Moline

— 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 Pilgrim 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.