Construction project will disrupt longtime Dubuque July 3rd tradition

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KWWL) — As the Fourth of July approaches, one of Dubuque’s most cherished traditions is being forced to adapt.

For more than 30 years, crowds have gathered along the riverfront and at A.Y. McDonald Park on July 3rd for the city’s annual airshow and fireworks display. But this year, major riverfront construction is changing the way thousands of people will experience the event.

A new apartment complex—Union at the Marina—is currently under construction along Volunteer Drive, where many attendees have traditionally parked and set up to view the festivities. The project, developed by a company based in Indianapolis, is taking over a large plot of land that had previously been open to the public on the holiday.

Nearly 1,000 parking spaces that were available in years past are