Des Moines Sun

The City of Cedar Rapids is set to receive $25 million from the Department of Transportation. The funds will be used for flood resilience efforts and infrastructure improvements at I-380 through the Union Pacific Railroad Project. This funding is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was supported by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in 2021. The grant is provided through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development program.

Senator Grassley expressed his satisfaction with the announcement, stating, "I’m happy to announce that the City of Cedar Rapids is receiving a $25 million award to improve its flood resilience and infrastructure." He highlighted the importance of this funding for Cedar Rapids, especially after facing devastating floods.

The project will involve designing, acquiring right-of-way, and constructing flood resiliency and multimodal improvements from I-380 to the Union Pacific Railroad. Key components include a 0.3-mile levee, realignment of F Avenue NW over the levee with a trail on top, converting F Avenue NW from one-way to two-way traffic, constructing a floodwall from E Avenue NW to an existing levee south of I-380, adding a roundabout on F Avenue NW, installing a stormwater conveyance system, building a railroad flood gate, and creating a pedestrian bridge.