The Greater Cincinnati Water Works has announced a temporary closure of the Duck Creek floodgate on Madison Road set to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday and reopen at 3 p.m.. This closure will halt traffic in both directions, as the City of Cincinnati’s Stormwater Management Utility oversees the operation.
The closure comes in the wake of a July 17 storm that overwhelmed Duck Creek, leading to localized flooding. City Manager Sheryl Long revealed during a press conference that the floodgate failed to close automatically due to a mechanical malfunction necessitating manual operation.
The floodgate’s history and current challenges
The floodgate, constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2008 and transferred to the city for maintenance in 2012 has undergone regular inspections. However, issues with its functionality have been documented. In 2026 a comprehensive study recommended a full replacement of the bridge, a solution deemed financially unfeasible by the city due to the extensive infrastructure rearrangements required.
Jason Fleming Deputy Director of the Greater Cincinnati Water Works, highlighted that addressing all the issues identified in the study would involve significant changes to property, roads, railroads, and other critical infrastructure in the area. The city determined that such an undertaking was not viable at the time.
Impact on the community and future considerations
The floodgate’s failure primarily affected the area around Duck Creek and the Madison Road bridge, impacting approximately 40 homes and businesses. The city has already begun reaching out to these properties to assess the damage caused by the flooding.
City Manager Long acknowledged that while the floodgate’s failure exacerbated the flooding, the sheer volume of rain within an hour on July 17 would have caused issues regardless. This event underscores the ongoing challenges in managing stormwater and maintaining aging infrastructure in the Cincinnati area.
