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Council issues BalloonFest traffic advisory; Kickapoo Street and Ameren utility work to overlap event
Summary
Council members and staff briefed the public on BalloonFest logistics, including a Friday ribbon cutting at Comfort Inn and Suites, a strict traffic pattern, 38 participating balloons, food trucks, and concurrent Kickapoo Street ramp work and an Ameren utility project near Campus View Drive.
Council members and staff used the Aug. 18 meeting to announce logistics and traffic guidance for the upcoming BalloonFest and concurrent public‑works work.
Alderman Bateman said the festival is expected to draw record crowds and that crews and organizers have planned street closures and food vendors: "It's that week. If the Batemans look exhausted, that's because we are. We're expecting record crowds this weekend." He listed visiting states and said two barbecue food trucks will serve lunch; others will offer Greek food, smash burgers and walleye.
Event timing and operations: a ribbon cutting for balloons over Route 66 will be held Friday evening at the Comfort Inn and Suites between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m., immediately following the pilot briefing, the presiding officer said. Bateman warned of a strict traffic pattern near church areas and urged patience: "Please follow it because it takes a lot of work for these guys to arrange that." The police chief confirmed a traffic map had been prepared: "That is correct. I developed a traffic map that, I don't know if it hit the press today. I don't know if anybody saw it."
Public‑works overlap: City staff and Alderman Landers reported Kickapoo Street work began the day of the meeting with saw cutting and concrete ramp work; the contractor stated they would not be working across the full street and the work should not have a major effect on traffic. Landers said the work "started work today. They're did some saw cutting and stuff. So I think, basically, you're gonna see concrete ramp work and stuff like that. They're not actually gonna be working on the street."
Separately, Alderman Bateman said Ameren is performing a large utility project at the Campus View Drive intersection near the railroad tracks; contractors were notified to minimize obstruction for festival traffic. "...they're gonna try to make sure that that intersection is as wide open as they can, for that because of that utility work that's going on," Bateman said.
Council members asked residents to use alternate routes to avoid expected backups—Route 10 and Keokuk/Limit Street could see congestion—and to follow the published traffic map and crew instructions. There were no votes or formal actions taken; these items were announced for public awareness.
