Sorting it out: Flood wall goes up at same time as CRSTs new tower

Figuring out the citys cost has been among challenges

January 29, 2015 | 12:01 am

CEDAR RAPIDS Just one-half inch separates the foundation wall of trucking company CRST International Inc.s new 11-story office tower, CRST Center, going up downtown and the citys 12-foot-tall concrete flood wall that will stand directly in front of it.

However, David Hayek, senior project manager for contractor Ryan Companies US Inc., said the buildings columns under the ground tie in to the concrete footing of the city flood wall to provide additional support for the office tower via building pilings under the flood wall footing.

Hence, a complication: Who pays for what?

The total project is about a $40 million one, and in August the City Council agreed to pay up to $3.95 million for its part. The citys flood control piece of the project consists of three parts;

l A 20-foot-deep shell for a pumping station

l A gate that closes over a storm sewer outlet in the flood wall during floods

l The 12-foot-tall, 30-inch-wide concrete flood wall.

The wall will run along the river the length of the 200 block of First Street SE directly in front of the 11-story CRST Center, the first three floors of which are a parking garage that extends the entire block.

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Sorting it out: Flood wall goes up at same time as CRSTs new tower