Rain impeding progress of museum move in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS – Weather is again delaying the move of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

Museum spokeswoman Diana Baculis said the forecast for Tuesday through Thursday is calling for more rain.

“We're waiting for two to three dry, windy days,” she said.

The museum was moved about 240 feet Wednesday before storms rolled into Cedar Rapids last week.

Most of the 25 crew members from Jeremy Patterson Structural Moving & Shoring of Washington, Iowa, have gone to Louisiana to work on moving projects there, company spokesman Rod Scott said.

Wheels under the building were turned Wednesday to prepare for a 90-degree pivot, but even that work requires a dry surface, he said.

Scott said steel plates placed on the road built for the move from the museum site at 30 16

^th

Ave. SW are sliding on the wet clay.

The building needs to be moved another 240 feet to position it in front of its new foundation, and then jacked up and slid on top of the parking garage.

Joe Winters, KCRG-TV9 meteorologist, said Cedar Rapids has recorded 2.7 inches of rain this month, about 1 inch above normal.

Baculis said last week's hail and rain left potholes in the road, which will need to be regraded.

The museum will sit 11 feet higher than its current elevation, or 3 feet above the 2008 flood level.