Davenport approves $190,000 parcel purchase for South Concord grade-separation project

The Davenport City Council on March 12 approved a resolution to purchase parcel R0463-03 for $190,000 as part of the South Concord grade separation project.

The purchase advances a project that the city said is tied to mitigation funding arising from the Canadian Pacific–Kansas City Southern (CPKC) merger and a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant. City engineering staff told the council the city previously secured $7,800,000 from the FRA and that the CPKC agreement included a separate $8,000,000 mitigation bucket, specifically naming a grade-separated crossing at Concord Avenue.

Merritt, who presented the item as engineering and capital projects staff, walked the council and the public through the project origin, grant funding, alternative alignments and design considerations. He said staff selected an alignment (referred to as option 4 in the analysis) because it minimizes impacts to known cultural resources, wetlands and private property. Merritt said preliminary design calls for an 8.3% maximum roadway grade and that the city is following SUDAAS (Statewide Urban Design and Specifications), which is based on the Iowa Department of Transportation design manual (chapter 5c). He said federal and state agencies will review plans, including the FRA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iowa DOT, Iowa DNR and CPKC.

On floodplain questions, Merritt said the project is not being built in the regulatory floodway; the shaded floodplain areas may be filled only after agency review and approvals. He compared the permitting pathway to a recent berm project adjacent to the water pollution control plant, which reached similar elevations and underwent the same agency reviews.

Merritt also described the project phasing: phase 1 (already under construction) includes work to the north and a new entrance into the water pollution control plant; phase 2 remains unfunded and would extend the roadway further south. He said some property needs will be limited to temporary construction easements and noted one parcel on the agenda (R0463-03) is recommended for outright purchase to avoid splitting a lot.

Public speakers voiced concerns about heavy-truck safety on the 8% grade and potential effects on sewer infrastructure. William Pampers, a Seventh Ward resident, said, “If you get on there and you're up there in the air like that in the middle of winter, there's no stopping you at an 8% grade, especially if it's icy and snow.” Judith Lee, Second Ward, asked whether the elevated roadway would include bike lanes or separated pedestrian access; staff replied the design includes a separated path on the bridge and the outside shoulder is graded to allow adding a separated path in the future, and that staff are working with local trail stakeholders to improve trail connections to the bridge.

After discussion the council voted by roll call; the resolution passed 10–0.

The city directed staff to proceed with the parcel acquisition to support the grade separation project; staff said additional property negotiations and temporary easements may be needed as design advances and that phase 2 funding remains to be secured.

Minutes and design materials referenced during the presentation will be made available by the engineering department on request.