(Cedar Rapids, IA) -- Work is scheduled to begin today (Monday) on an underground storm water gate in the Czech Village. The project is part of a permanent flood control system in Cedar Rapids.
Construction will be near A Street SW and Bowling Street SW (formerly 21stAvenue), northeast of C Street SW. Impacts to traffic are not expected. Starting today, the Cedar Valley Nature Trail will be temporarily closed for approximately 45 days while work takes place at the trail. A detour route will be established via C Street SW.
The underground gate is expected to be finished by the end of the year. When closed during Cedar River flooding emergencies, the new underground gate will prevent river water from backing up into the City’s storm sewer system, causing street flooding. The gate also reduces the City’s reliance on plugs and pumps that are annually deployed as temporary protection during high river crests.
This is just one of several flood control projects that will be underway in the Czech Village over the next two years. Additional projects include:
12thAvenue and 16thAvenue Floodgates // 2021 – 2023
·16thAvenue SW Floodgate| Fall 2021 – Spring 2022
·12thAvenue SE Floodgate| Summer 2022 – Spring 2023
·Given its elevation, the west side of the 12thAvenue Bridge does not require a floodgate
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library Floodwall
Construction will begin this fall on a permanent concrete floodwall from the 16thAvenue SW floodgate to a future pump station just south of the 12thAvenue Bridge. The project includes a raised, terraced yard on the dry side to accommodate outdoor activities at the museum and minimize the appearance of the floodwall.
Czech Village Pump Station
Starting summer 2022, this will be the largest pump station undertaken to date. Located just south of the 12thAve Bridge, the pump station capacity is anticipated to be over 100,000 gallons per minute (more than twice the size of the Parking Lot 44 Pump Station). Like the pump station in NewBo, the aesthetics will complement and blend with the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
Flood control projects already completed in the Czech Village District include relocating approximately $4 million worth of underground utilities to accommodate the Czech Village flood control levee. The utility work was completed in 2017, with the levee substantially completed in 2019.
The levee stretches half a mile long from the Linn County Solid Waste Agency to 16th Avenue SW. The levee is approximately 16 – 20’ tall on average, and incorporates a walking/bike trail.