Peoria Public Works crews and members of the Mayor’s Youth Program worked Wednesday night into Thursday morning to get a 1,500 foot sand wall in place along the lowest portion of the Illinois River front in downtown. The wall concept is relatively new and it’s the first time it’s being used in Peoria.
But some water is seeping under the wall. Peoria Public Works Director Mike Rogers says that is to be expected. “Any time you have a sandbag operation you do get seepage. So what we are trying to do is just to stay ahead of it as much as possible. We have pumps that are out here draining that water.”
Rogers is commending his team for their work. He says businesses are still open and weekend events on the Peoria Riverfront are still going ahead as scheduled. “While you’re here enjoying dinner or just enjoying the weekend festivities that are happening over the weekend, you’ll see another show. You see the pubic work folks working. So come on down.”
But city officials are asking people to stay away from the sand wall and to use the Riverfront Village elevated deck for observation.
The Illinois River in downtown Peoria is still expected to crest at 25 and half feet. It floods at 24 feet.