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The expansion of U.S. Highway 20 to four lanes in northwestern Iowa is about to shift into high gear.

A draft version of a state highway plan calls building more of the new four-lane route and doing it sooner than previously projected. It envisions spending $117.7 million on that road between 2009 and 2013.

The proposal calls for paving four lanes between Moorland in Webster County and Sac County road N-14, just east of Sac City.

Under the current five-year plan, just two lanes would be paved between Moorland and Iowa Highway 4 west of Rockwell City in Calhoun County.

The Iowa Transportation Commission is expected to act on the draft plan next month.

‘‘The commission had discussions and one of the decisions was to continue things that were already in the program,’’ said Jon Ranney, director of program management for the state Department of Transportation.

The expansion of U.S. Highway 20 all across northern Iowa has been in the state highway construction program on and off for about 40 years. After decades of work, about 90 miles between Moorland and Moville in Woodbury County are all that remain to be widened.

Members of the U.S. 20 Corridor Association are pleased with the proposal.

‘‘We’re absolutely thrilled with the five-year plan,’’ said Shirley Phillips, the association’s president. ‘‘We realize that we owe the commission our gratitude.’’

Steve Hoesel, the association’s secretary, said the schedule for completing the work was a surprise.

‘‘I think it goes faster than anyone anticipated,’’ he said. ‘‘You’re talking about a major commitment.’’

Construction crews started working last year on the earthmoving needed to create a four-lane highway between Moorland and Iowa Highway 4. Their progress has been slowed by rain and mud this spring.

The original plan was to pave just two of those lanes. The draft version of the new five-year plan calls for paving all four lanes.

The new plan also includes this U.S. Highway 20 work:

? Earthmoving and paving for four lanes between Iowa Highway 4 and Sac County road N-14

? Buying land for a four-lane route between Sac County road N-14 and U.S. Highway 71 at Early in Sac County

? Completing an environmental impact study on the planned route between Early and Moville

Additional U.S. Highway 20 work could be added to the plan in the future as the state collects more road money through the Transportation Investment Moves the Economy for the 21st Century (TIME-21) law.



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

 

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