Western Iowans want highways improved
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, March 17, 2007
CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa -- Blaine Donaldson recalls leaving a Des Moines meeting with another man who had spoken on behalf of four laning U.S. Highway 20 in western Iowa.
The meeting occurred in the 1960s, Kingsley resident Donaldson recounted. During the drive home, his passenger remarked, "it is sad, but we'll never see 20 four-laned in my lifetime." He also told Donaldson he doubted it would happen by the time the 21st century arrived.
He went one step further, saying he'd bet U.S. 20 wouldn't even be completed in Donaldson's lifetime.
Well, Donaldson said, "two of those" have proven true -- the acquaintance died about 20 years ago and seven years of the 21st century have passed. And Donaldson, 75, noted he'd prefer it if all three assertions didn't prove true.
Speaking at a listening session of the Iowa Senate Friday, Donaldson was one of several people who touted four-laning U.S. 20 over the final 90 miles that remain two lanes. But at the meeting, which was designed to hear input on transportation needs and how they might be paid for in a time of tight Iowa Department of Transportation finances, other highways in western Iowa were also pitched to state Sens. Tom Rielly and Larry Noble.
Advocates spoke for making U.S. 30 a four-lane highway as well, along with improving Iowa Highway 86 near Okoboji and Iowa Highway 3 between Cherokee and U.S. 71.
U.S. 20, however got the lion's share of the comments. It would cost about $450 million -- and much more if the project occurs later rather than sooner -- to four lane the final 90 miles, which speakers said would drive improved economic development in Northwest Iowa.
There was also some "we're overlooked" sentiment in the U.S. 20 discussions. Rick Keith of Aurelia said "Northwest Iowa has just been totally ignored" on U.S. 20, yet the tax dollars of Northwest Iowans have funded central and eastern Iowa highways.
Terry Graybill, a Cherokee County supervisor and employee of the Hy-Vee distribution center in Cherokee, said, "I feel like (Keith), we feel like the forgotten stepchild of Iowa."
The U.S. 20 Corridor Association is pushing to four lane U.S. 20, and there is a coalition of a tier of counties south also desiring four-laning U.S. 30, which has about 205 miles with two lanes. Carroll city manager Gerald Clausen said Iowa groups wanting highway projects in their area will have "spats" over who gets priority in a period of limited funding, but generally "population wins." Clausen said 20 percent of Iowa's population lives adjacent to U.S. 30.
Dave Ehler, a staffer for 5th District Congressman Steve King, said King's chief infrastructure priority in his five years in Congress has been completing U.S. 20, but he is also touting another highway too.
Ehler said Iowa Highway 86 running on the west side of West Lake Okoboji at peak times has traffic exceeding that handled a few miles east on U.S. 71 through Okoboji. He said to improve five miles of that road will cost about $10 million, but King is finding it tougher to find federal funding for that, since earmarks have disappeared since Democrats took over the U.S. House.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
The meeting occurred in the 1960s, Kingsley resident Donaldson recounted. During the drive home, his passenger remarked, "it is sad, but we'll never see 20 four-laned in my lifetime." He also told Donaldson he doubted it would happen by the time the 21st century arrived.
He went one step further, saying he'd bet U.S. 20 wouldn't even be completed in Donaldson's lifetime.
Well, Donaldson said, "two of those" have proven true -- the acquaintance died about 20 years ago and seven years of the 21st century have passed. And Donaldson, 75, noted he'd prefer it if all three assertions didn't prove true.
Speaking at a listening session of the Iowa Senate Friday, Donaldson was one of several people who touted four-laning U.S. 20 over the final 90 miles that remain two lanes. But at the meeting, which was designed to hear input on transportation needs and how they might be paid for in a time of tight Iowa Department of Transportation finances, other highways in western Iowa were also pitched to state Sens. Tom Rielly and Larry Noble.
Advocates spoke for making U.S. 30 a four-lane highway as well, along with improving Iowa Highway 86 near Okoboji and Iowa Highway 3 between Cherokee and U.S. 71.
U.S. 20, however got the lion's share of the comments. It would cost about $450 million -- and much more if the project occurs later rather than sooner -- to four lane the final 90 miles, which speakers said would drive improved economic development in Northwest Iowa.
There was also some "we're overlooked" sentiment in the U.S. 20 discussions. Rick Keith of Aurelia said "Northwest Iowa has just been totally ignored" on U.S. 20, yet the tax dollars of Northwest Iowans have funded central and eastern Iowa highways.
Terry Graybill, a Cherokee County supervisor and employee of the Hy-Vee distribution center in Cherokee, said, "I feel like (Keith), we feel like the forgotten stepchild of Iowa."
The U.S. 20 Corridor Association is pushing to four lane U.S. 20, and there is a coalition of a tier of counties south also desiring four-laning U.S. 30, which has about 205 miles with two lanes. Carroll city manager Gerald Clausen said Iowa groups wanting highway projects in their area will have "spats" over who gets priority in a period of limited funding, but generally "population wins." Clausen said 20 percent of Iowa's population lives adjacent to U.S. 30.
Dave Ehler, a staffer for 5th District Congressman Steve King, said King's chief infrastructure priority in his five years in Congress has been completing U.S. 20, but he is also touting another highway too.
Ehler said Iowa Highway 86 running on the west side of West Lake Okoboji at peak times has traffic exceeding that handled a few miles east on U.S. 71 through Okoboji. He said to improve five miles of that road will cost about $10 million, but King is finding it tougher to find federal funding for that, since earmarks have disappeared since Democrats took over the U.S. House.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
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