Group expects more money for 20

State foresees TIME-21 plan increasing funds for roads

By BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
A group pushing for a four-lane U.S. Highway 20 all across Iowa has high hopes for a new multiyear construction plan now being drafted.

That’s because talks with state transportation officials have indicated that there will be more money than expected for road projects.

Neil Volmer, director of planning and programming for the Iowa Department of Transportation, said Friday afternoon that the new TIME-21 law will be the source of that money. He didn’t have an estimate of how much new money would be available for the 2009-2013 plan.

Legislators have said the law would raise $160 million over 10 years for state, city and county roads. The law increased vehicle registration and drivers’ license fees. TIME-21 stands for Transportation Investment Moves the Economy for the 21st Century.

Steve Hoesel, secretary of the U.S. 20 Corridor Association, said Friday morning during the group’s meeting that half of that ‘‘new money’’ could go to construction projects while the other half would be committed to maintenance of existing roads.

‘‘What goes into that five-year plan is actually what they’re going to work on,’’ he said.

Additional paving between Moorland in Webster County and Iowa Highway 4 near Rockwell City in Calhoun County would be one potential windfall for the U.S. Highway 20 project, Hoesel said.

The current plan calls for doing all the earthmoving for four lanes along that stretch, but paving only two of them.

The five-year plan must be completed and approved before the state government’s fiscal year begins July 1.

Volmer said the Iowa Transportation Commission will review a draft copy of the plan next week. It will vote on the plan next month, he said.

New projects made possible by TIME-21 money will be added later, Volmer said.

Work to create the four lanes between Moorland and Iowa Highway 4 began late last year. Thanks to the wet spring weather, there hasn’t been much progress. Association President Shirley Phillips said contractors she’s talked to have indicated it’s too muddy to do a lot of work.

U.S. Highway 20 crosses Iowa between Dubuque and Sioux City. After nearly 40 years of intermittent work, 90 miles between Moorland and Moville in Woodbury County are all that remain to be widened. The price tag for expanding that section has been estimated at $500 million.



Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 orbshea@messengernews.net