Bettendorf took the first step to expand a section of Middle Road at the city council meeting on Tuesday, when the council approved funding the construction through Tax Increment Financing (TIF).
The total cost for the project is estimated to be $28 million. The expansion will increase the section of Middle Road between Forest Grove Drive and Crow Creek Road from two lanes to four lanes. It will also add sidewalks for pedestrian safety.
“The reason for doing that was to help construct an expanded Middle Road,” said Jeff Reiter, the Bettendorf assistant city administrator.”As you traverse that corridor out there you find that it is a two-lane road with no shoulders, no paths, and no sidewalks. It’s pretty unsafe right now for bicycling or walking.”
They also plan to add a roundabout on the intersection of Middle Road and Hopewell Avenue, and adjust the roundabout at the intersection of Middle Road and 53rd Street to fit four-lane traffic.
“The traffic counts have gone up, the volume of people using Middle Road has gone up and we certainly see a lot of pedestrians, kids on bicycles going through that area. And we do need a safer path,” said Reiter. “It’s going to be great for the city, it’s going to be great for the sports complex, it’s going to be great for the school systems to have a safer road network to traverse.”
The project will not begin construction until 2028, when the city has gained enough funds from the TIF. It will be completed in three phases over four years.