A busy intersection in Rock Island will be changed to improve traffic flow and attract more business. At Monday's meeting, the city council decided to pay six property owners a total of $46,000 for property and construction easements for the 11th Street improvement project at Blackhawk Road.
JeffEder, Director of Community and Economic Development, says aldermen have already approved a contract with Valley Construction to re-configure the intersection.
One of the six parcels is vacant land, while two others are what Eder calls partial takings where the city only needs small strips of land.
Rock Island officials have been working to develop the former trailer park for at least ten years.
Eder had no comment about Watch Tower Plaza where Rock Island officials hope Walmart will build a store. But he did say, "The site is essentially back to its natural state, so a new development can take place now."
Work could begin late this month or in early July.
