Eastern Iowa Town Loses Mind Over One-Way Road Conversions

Today in surprising news: people don't like change.

We gave you a heads-up on this last year: plans have been in the works to change 3rd & 4th Streets in downtown Davenport to two-way roads, from their longtime status as one-ways.

This week, crews began resurfacing 3rd between Telegraph and Harrison (the whole conversion will eventually go 3rd & 4th between River Drive & Marquette). But remember...that could involve filling potholes.

After it's resurfaced, crews will re-stripe it and adjust the traffic signals. The resurfacing of 3rd is expected to be done by this fall, with work on 4th to start soon after. To hopefully minimize disruption for businesses along the route, this whole thing is taking place in phases, so the full project is expected to continue into next year.

According to KWQC, business owners are optimistic that switching the roads to two-way will ultimately benefit downtown, and several folks think it will make the area safer and more inviting. But not everyone is particularly jazzed for it.

People Are Popping Off

You've likely seen all the comments about it, whether it's on news pages or certain unnamed QC Facebook groups. And that's fine, we're all entitled to our own opinions. But this situation has a particular amount of dissension, so here are a few screenshots.

Personally, ever since I moved to Davenport, it's seemed odd to me from the beginning that the city has so many one-way roads. Although I'm positive accidents are likely once the conversions are done.

Meanwhile, I just need a dozen potholes to be filled in the downtown area.