U.S. Highway 20 — our vision and our future
Longtime campaign to make thoroughfare four lanes statewide is on trackFact Box
'How we can save our roads'
The Federal Highway Administration tells us that the "growth in freight movement is placing enormous pressure on an already congested highway system." When President Eisenhower signed the 1956 act bankrolling the interstate system, road-building was a national strategic imperative. No expense was spared. But later generations failed to invest in kind. Between now and 2010, President Obama and Congress have made plans to invest nearly $30 billion, jump-starting an overhaul of the nation's highway infrastructure. Their goal is to put Americans back to work rebuilding thousands of miles of aging and deficient roads and bridges.
Today our 47,000 miles of interstate highways are a half-century old - and look it. Other vital highways are at or near retirement age. The result is a nationwide backlog of critical repairs and reconstructions. The price tag is astronomical. One federal study suggests that the U.S. should spend $225 billion a year for the next 50 years to rehabilitate its surface transportation. We're currently spending just 40 percent of that - in a country that does 96 percent of its traveling on land by car and light truck.
Excerpted from Parade magazine, March 8, "How We Can Save Our Roads" by Earl Swift.
Four Lane U.S. Highway 20 - a vital part of our future - is becoming a reality. Although proponents of this expansion have been working on the project since the 1960s, now, more than ever, we are seeing the fruits of our labor.
There is visible evidence of progress - west of Fort Dodge to the Twin Lakes area and on to Highway 4. According to a recent update we received from the Iowa Department of Transportation, the following segments are under some stage of construction. (The segments are described starting at the west side of each and working back to the east.)
The first segment, 1 mile west of the Webster County line to Moorland: Grading is on schedule and the Union Pacific railroad bridge north of Moorland is scheduled to be operational in May. Paving for this portion is set for a June letting.
The second segment, east of N65 to one mile west of the Webster County line: All grading is under way and on schedule to allow for paving in July of this year. Construction will take place this fall and all of next year.
The third segment, Iowa 4 to east of N65 (approximately 3 1/5 miles west of Knierim): All grading is under way and on schedule to allow letting for paving in July of this year. Again construction will take place this fall and all of next year. Plans are to open the portion of the road from Iowa 4 to Moorland to traffic following completion of construction in the fall of 2010.
The fourth segment, N33 to Iowa 4 in Calhoun County: There are two grading projects and two culvert projects scheduled for letting in May 2009. Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the end of 2010. The paving project is expected to follow up this grading project to begin work in 2011.
The fifth segment, N14 (one mile east of Sac City) to N33 (which is approximately 2.7 miles east of the Sac/Calhoun County line): Grading is programmed for FY 2011 and paving in FY 2012.
The final segment, just west of US 71 (north of Early) to N14: The projects programmed call for grading in FY 2011 and paving in FY 2012.
All of the work described above is highly dependent on the weather. But it's finally comforting to know that all of the above work is programmed.
In fact, every mile of U.S. 20 from Moorland to Moville is in some stage of planning or construction. In November 2008, Iowa DOT District 3 Engineer Tony Lazarowicz, told the U.S. 20 Corridor Association the Federal Highway Administration had issued a ''Finding of No Significant Impact'' statement on the proposed four-lane U.S. 20 from Early to Moville. With this statement, preliminary environmental and archeological work can be considered complete so design work can begin.
Cities and counties, economic development officials, chambers of commerce, businesses and individuals have donated countless hours in promoting the four-lane corridor to encourage growth in our part of Iowa. Meetings and summits have been held, members have diligently attended and made presentations at DOT Commission meetings and have also attended their work sessions, trips have been taken to Washington, D.C., to promote the cause with the congressional delegation, members have lobbied local legislators for improvements, and the work goes on.
Northwest Iowa is the largest land mass in Iowa not served by a four-lane highway, but this situation is being addressed by the Iowa Department of Transportation with their commitment to finish half of the 90-mile, two-lane gap between Moorland and Moville, with design work happening on the other half. The U.S. 20 Association is also appreciative of the efforts of Sen. Charles Grassley and U.S. Reps. Steve King and Tom Latham for their special appropriations from the federal government. They have all recognized the need to complete the four-lane U.S. 20 corridor as quickly as possible.
Investment in highways contributes to economic growth and productivity.
Businesses and individuals now demand more flexible and timely service, increasing the importance of an efficient and reliable freight transportation system. It's also an easily demonstrated fact population increases along a four-lane corridor as well as business and industries. They all need transportation networks to be successful.
Northwest Iowa contains some of the state's most productive farmland, creating the need for expanded transportation infrastructure for crops, livestock, and renewable fuels. We are also a haven for wind energy with huge windmill parts transported frequently, creating serious safety concerns on two-lane roads.
Transportation improvements increase the range of possible locations for manufacturing plants and distribution facilities. Economic development professionals in northwest Iowa, where four-lane U.S. 20 is still being developed, lose business prospects consistently because of a lack of modern, safe, multi-lane highways. In fact we are told upfront, do not provide prospect information unless you are 10 to 30 miles from a four-lane road.
Iowa has just one four-lane east-west route - overcrowded and dangerous I-80. As the projected freight map for 2035 shows, the potential for environmental concern in the I-80 corridor will increase dramatically due to concentrated emissions from the expected truck traffic. Last summer during the floods, I-80 was shut down in eastern Iowa resulting in traffic being diverted to another east-west road. That road happened to be U.S. 20.
Four-lane U.S. 20 will connect Iowa businesses, manufacturers, leisure travelers and citizens with opportunity. Working in conjunction with the Nebraska Department of Roads, which is expanding Nebraska 35 and the Illinois Department of Transportation, which is expanding U.S. 20, Iowa's four-lane U.S. 20 becomes The Midwest Connector.
This safe, reliable, and efficient highway will expedite the shipment of goods and people while providing for business growth and retention.
For more information on U.S. 20, visit our Web site at www.4Lane20.com.
Shirley Phillips is executive director of Sac Economic and Tourism Development and president of the U.S. 20 Corridor Association.
