By PETER HUSSMANN
Though the Iowa Department of Transportation's five-year preliminary plan for projects slated for Jasper County tops $8 million, it contains one glaring omission - improvements to First Avenue in Newton.
The DOT released its $2.1 billion plus draft plan for air, rail, highway, traffic safety and economic development related projects on Tuesday. State highway commissioners are expected to adopt the plan next month.
Newton residents have complained for years about the deteriorating condition of the state highway that serves as the city's main corridor. No funding for improvements have been scheduled by the DOT through 2014.
Projects slated for Newton include award of a $630,000 Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy grant for the roadway project associated with the development of Trinity Towers at the old Maytag factory. Commissioners approved the grant last year on the project totalling just over $1 million.
The Newton Municipal Airport was also awarded $371,800 in state funding this year for the apron expansion project. The total project cost is $444,000. Installation of a new entrance sign is also included in the funding.
Jasper County received two funding grants under the department's traffic safety improvement program. The county received $30,000 to install traffic control devices at various locations around the county and another $12,500 to upgrade warning and regulatory signs at the intersection of county roads S6G and F-48.
The Jasper County Conservation Board would receive $14,276 through the DOT's Living Roadway Trust Fund for equipment needs, if the final plan is adopted.
Six highway projects were approved for financing within the five-year period that comprise the bulk of the planned expenditures.
In 2010, grading, paving and the installation of traffic signs at the intersection of Iowa 65 and 117 is slated to be completed. Total cost is $800,000. A similar project, with the same cost, is also scheduled for next at the intersection of Iowa Highway 330 and county road F-17.
Four projects are slated to be constructed in 2011, according to the draft plan. The largest is a $3.8 million upgrade to the westbound Interstate 80 rest area. That project was previously slated for this year.
Bridge rehabilitation work on northbound and southbound Iowa Highway 14 over Interstate 80 is also scheduled for 2011. The combined projects total more than $2 million. A $613,000 bridge deck overlay project over the South Skunk River on Iowa Highway 117 near Colfax is also scheduled for 2011.
The current and draft plans can be viewed here.
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