Crews close in on demolition work for new I-74 bridge

Crews began dismantling Monday one of the last few structures on this year's downtown Bettendorf demolition schedule to pave the way for a new Interstate 74 bridge and the realignment of State and Grant streets.

The red former machine shop building at 329 11th St. became the latest in the downtown area to be razed. The demolition is being done by Valley Construction.

Doug Rick, the I-74 project manager for the Iowa Department of Transportation, or DOT, said the Rock Island-based construction company also has received the bid to demolish the former Crescent Cleaners at 1303 Grant St. and the former Q-C Mart at 1402 State St.

Theyve already started on all three, he said, adding that the red concrete barn-like building is the 38th structure to be demolished on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River as part of the I-74 project.

Bill Hass, the president of Valley Construction, said crews have disconnected the utilities at all three buildings and should begin tearing down the former Crescent Cleaners by Thursday and the former Q-C Mart around Jan. 1.

Valley Construction will receive about $64,000 for the three demolition jobs, Rick said.

When their work is completed, 40 buildings will have been removed so work can begin on the realignment of the Grant and State one-way streets.

In total, the DOT has spent just more than $16 million in acquisition costs and relocation expenses for 44 properties and nearly $755,000 in demolition fees. Two of the acquired properties were vacant lots, and Ross' Restaurant and its former drive-through, which is a separate building, will be the last two to come down in downtown Bettendorf. (It came to light Monday that the owner of Ross' is exploring an option to stay downtown.)

Rick said the DOT plans to seek bids on the roadwork contract for realigning Grant and State streets by mid-January so construction can begin in the spring.

Hass said his company, which has demolished about 12 buildings in downtown Bettendorf, is interested in handling the $13 million realignment project that will carry over into the 2016 construction season.

More:
Crews close in on demolition work for new I-74 bridge