Published: November 14, 2008 03:15 pm            

Informational meeting held last week in Pella

By CLINT BROWN

The Chronicle

A public informational meeting was held Thursday night regarding a study examining possible routes from Pella to Interstate 80. An explanation of the process was explained and maps for potential corridors displayed.

The purpose of this meeting was to help provide information about the Red Rock to I-80 Corridor Project and to gather input from the public.

As has been the case for some time, several communities in the region have been concerned with the current access to I-80, especially going eastward. Concerns include loss of productivity for local businesses, increased travel times, expenses and personal safety.

With several industries in the Red Rock area alone, which produce around 50,000 truck trips each year to and from I-80, it is vital for them to remain competitive that there is a practical and safe access route to the interstate.

Regional businesses, tourists and college students would all benefit from a more direct route.

Recently, the project received a federal grant to study a better connection to Interstate 80. The feasibility study will try to justify the corridor need, identify the most feasible location for the corridor and also define a corridor to a reasonable study area to be carried forward. Currently the study is in Stage II of Phase one and the study has an estimated completion date of Dec. 2008.

One of the main reasons for the grant is the lack of state highways that provide access to I-80 from the Red Rock area. The 18 mile gap is one of the longest distances on I-80 in which there is no state road available for a direct connection to a major population center.

Another concern is the existing roads leading to I-80, which feature narrow bridges, reduced speed corners, and limited visibility due to roadway curvature limits operating speeds. There are also limited passing opportunities and areas to pull a disabled vehicle off the roadway exist

Thus far the study has helped form a Regional Advisory Committee to provide input to balance interests and impacts to adjacent communities, facilitated thirteen small group meetings to solicit input on the key project issues and concerns and provided project status and solicited input from state representatives for:

-Jasper County

-Mahaska County

-Marion County



The small group meetings were made up of representatives from area communities and counties, Iowa DOT, Cargill, Pella Corp and Vermeer. Their findings included:

-Project support is strong

-Need better North-South connection

-A regional route benefits others outside the study area

-Provide balanced east and west I-80 movements

-Need to serve existing industry

-Concerns with competing for funding with other projects



Some of the key issues identified by the Regional Advisory Committee included:

-Prefer a north to northeast corridor

-Desire a direct, convenient, and safe route

-Obtain a broad “buy-in”

-Determine who uses and owns the road

-Provide eastbound access to I-80

-Acquire funding for the project

-Minimize Right-of-Way acquisitions

-Provide regional route

-Use existing county roads

-Use existing interchanges on I-80 and IA 163



The meeting did identify one preferred corridor, a roughly three-mile wide area stretching from exit 44 on Highway 163 north to exit 173 on Interstate 80.

A similar meeting will be held tonight in Sully from 6-8 p.m. at the Sully Community Center.

        

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