Davenport to Build Division Street Trail Underpass
The city plans to construct a new trail underpass to improve safety and connectivity along the Duck Creek system.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Hiking
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Davenport is designing an underpass at Division Street to provide a safer crossing for trail users along the Duck Creek system. Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in summer or early fall 2027.
Why it matters
The city aims to eliminate at-grade crossings where heavy vehicle traffic on arterial roadways like Division Street creates hazardous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
The city prefers underpasses over overpasses due to lower construction costs and higher usage rates among trail users. Designers expect to finish the initial planning phase for the Division Street underpass by early 2027.
The players
Davenport
This is a city in Iowa that manages a municipal trail network including the Duck Creek and Goose Creek routes.
Iowa DOT
The Iowa Department of Transportation is the state agency responsible for overseeing transportation infrastructure and grant distribution.
The details
This project builds on previous efforts to improve connectivity, such as the recently completed Goose Creek Trail connection and the installation of an underpass at 53rd Street. The city is concurrently completing the replacement of the Eastern Avenue Bridge, which also incorporates an underpass for local trail users.
Timeline
The Eastern Avenue Bridge project is expected to be finished by the end of November 2026.
The design phase for the Division Street underpass should conclude in late winter or early spring 2027.
Construction on the Division Street underpass is slated to start in summer or early fall 2027.
Culture Shift
Davenport continues to prioritize non-motorized infrastructure as part of a broader move toward active transportation. This shift reflects a strategic decision to prioritize human-scaled connectivity over traditional road-focused expansion in urban planning.
Residents and trail users can anticipate safer, non-stop passage across Division Street once construction concludes. The project aims to reduce the current difficulty of navigating this busy arterial road while using the regional trail network.
The takeaway
City planners favor underpasses because they tend to be less expensive to build and see higher utilization rates compared to elevated crossings. Trail users should expect improved navigation across major roadways as these infrastructure upgrades continue to expand.
Further reading
For more updates on local recreational infrastructure, visit the Davenport Hiking section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Local 4 News WHBF TV.
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Should your city prioritize building separated crossings for bike trails over at-grade intersections?
