News Flash

MUSCATINE, Iowa – RAGBRAI L is underway as over 29,000 riders began the cross-state journey from Sioux City to Davenport this week. Their path will take them through small towns and large including the final “Meet Up Town” for this year’s RAGBRAI … Muscatine.

With so many bicyclists coming through Muscatine this Saturday (July 29) and with the many activities planned along the RAGBRAI route and inside Muscatine’s Riverside Park, some traffic restrictions will be implemented to ensure the safety of both the riders and the general public.

The Muscatine community anxiously awaits the RAGBRAI riders and has a stockpile of watermelon, cold drinks, and food available for them along with plenty of entertainment from the music stage in the green space on the downriver portion of the park. Of course, the Muscatine community welcomed to attend and is also invited down to the riverfront to meet with and celebrate with these adventurous bicyclists.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Muscatine also offers RAGBRAI riders a unique opportunity to “Double Dip in the Mississip”. RAGBRAI Muscatine is offering riders the opportunity to dip their tires into the Mississippi River while in Muscatine before they do the same to officially end their RAGBRAI “L” journey in Davenport. 

This is the first time that riders will be able to follow the Mississippi River on the final day as they complete the 27-mile journey eastward on Highway 22 from Muscatine to Davenport with the river in sight during most of the ride. The unique “double dip” offers riders another historic memento during the 50th anniversary ride, an opportunity that may not come again for a very long time.

DECORATING CONTEST

Muscatine residents and businesses along the designated RAGBRAI route through Muscatine (Hershey Avenue, Mississippi Drive, Mulberry Avenue, East 5th Street, Park Avenue, Washington Street) have been invited to participate in a friendly yard decorating contest. To participate, a resident or business just needs to clean up and decorate their yard, and email a photo of the yard by 8 a.m. on Saturday (July 29) along with the name and address of the resident to ragbrai@muscatine.com. 

Photos will be posted on the RAGBRAI Muscatine Facebook page. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three entries. Visit www.muscatine.com/RAGBRAI for more information.

SAFETY TIPS

Thousands of bicyclists will be rolling through Muscatine between 5 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday (July 29) with most of the traffic between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Muscatine RAGBRAI committee offers these safety tips for both the riders and the public:

• The committee strongly suggests for those who live along the designated route (especially on Hershey Avenue, East 5th Street, and Washington Street) to park your vehicles on a side street with access to the road detour. 
• If unable to move your vehicle, please pay close attention when opening car doors, pulling out, and avoid heavy traffic times if possible. Hershey Avenue will be open to traffic but there will be times of heavy bicycle traffic.
• We understand that this is an inconvenience on a Saturday morning but RAGBRAI officials and the riders would appreciate the additional room on the street. We truly appreciate your patience during this event.
• Keep pets kenneled or leashed between 5 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• Do not spray riders with water.
• Please try to keep the right side of the road and shoulder clear of objects and debris.
• Do not hand anything to the riders.

STREET CLOSURES

The Muscatine RAGBRAI committee along with the City of Muscatine decided not to officially close any of the streets in Muscatine. However, there will be a period of time Saturday when Muscatine Police will close Mississippi Drive from Main Street to Mulberry Avenue, and Mulberry Avenue to East 5th Street, when the amount of bike traffic warrants. Traffic will be allowed on Mississippi Drive until around 8 or 8:30 a.m. when large packs of riders are expected to start coming through.

Along with closing Mississippi Drive, the intersections with Pine, Chestnut, Iowa, Sycamore, Cedar, and Walnut will also be closed at Mississippi Drive while the RAGBRAI riders are in or near Riverside Park. However, the City of Muscatine will keep the Cedar Street intersection partially open for those wanting access to the upriver boat launch or the marina. Traffic into the park at the Cedar Street entrance will be only to the upriver portion of the park and only at times when bicycle traffic warrants.

DETOUR – Vehicle traffic from the south can proceed off of Grandview Avenue onto Main Street and up to 8th Street to Cypress to Washington and to Park Avenue. Access to Downtown Muscatine will be available. (See Map) The detour and all street closures will end once most of the RAGBRAI riders depart and that is tentatively scheduled to be around 1:30 p.m.

RIVERSIDE PARK PARKING

The small parking lot downriver of Pearl City Station will be closed to the public starting at 7 a.m. Thursday (July 27) and remain closed through 1 p.m. on Sunday (July 30). The parking area in front of the downriver boat launch will be closed to all traffic at 6 a.m. Saturday (July 29) and remain closed through 1 p.m. on Sunday (July 30).

The Iowa Avenue and Cedar Street entrances to Riverside Park will be closed to vehicular traffic at 6 a.m. Saturday (July 29). The closures will end at approximately 2 p.m. Saturday (July 29). However, traffic will be allowed into the upriver boat launch area during this time depending on RAGBRAI bike traffic. Please be patient.

ENTERTAINMENT AND A VISIT FROM THE COUNTESSS

There will be three days of food, fun, and music along the riverfront this weekend with Almost Friday Fest taking place 5-8 p.m. Thursday (featuring the Tim Stop Band) and Friday (featuring Code 415), and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (featuring 1st Impression and Fair Warning) in the grassy area downriver of Pearl City Station.

The American Queen Voyages cruise ship, the American Countess, will be making her second stop in Muscatine this cruise season, arriving just after midnight Saturday. Passengers will be allowed to disembark and enjoy Muscatine venues before returning to the ship before her noon departure on Sunday.