MUSCATINE, Iowa — The City of Muscatine’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will conduct its annual flood preparedness and maintenance exercise on Wednesday, May 27, weather permitting. The exercise includes the temporary installation, inspection, and removal of the city’s two primary flood gates.
The Roadway Maintenance Division will begin with the roller flood gate (Flood Gate #2) located on East 2nd Street at the Mad Creek Bridge. City crews will set up traffic control before the 10 a.m. hard closure start time.
The closure will be from Oak Street to the Highway 92 intersection and is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. No traffic will be allowed through the work area at the flood gate during this time period. An abbreviated detour will utilize East 5th Street.
Once work on Gate #2 is complete and East 2nd Street reopens to traffic, crews will proceed to Flood Gate #1, located at the east end of Mississippi Drive (at the seawall), to perform the same procedures. Mississippi Drive between Mulberry Avenue and Orange Street will close to traffic, but no detour is planned since traffic disruption will be minimal.
Each gate operation, including setup, maintenance, and removal, is expected to take one to two hours.
This annual maintenance is a critical part of the city’s flood response planning. Although the 2026 spring flood season has seen no major activity, the City of Muscatine is taking proactive steps to ensure all flood protection systems remain in full working order.
Muscatine has two primary flood gates. Flood Gate #1 is located near the seawall at the intersection of Mulberry Avenue and East Mississippi Drive. Flood Gate #2 is located on East 2nd Street where it crosses Mad Creek. Additional smaller barriers and panels are utilized during high-water seasons around historic homes near the intersection of Mississippi Drive and Mulberry Avenue.
The City of Muscatine also maintains railroad flood gates on the Heinz spur located between 6th and 7th streets, and on the railroad mainline near the intersection of Mississippi Drive and Broadway. An additional panel is installed, if needed, to close off the 5th Street Bridge sidewalk.
Residents and motorists are asked to use caution around the work areas and follow posted detours.
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City of Muscatine
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