Iowa DOT seeks public opinion on I-80 planning study

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By CAITLIN WARE
I-80 overpass at Gibbon Avenue in Adair County.
photo by Tammy Pearson/Fontanelle Observer
The I-80 overpass at Gibbon Avenue is the least used overpass in Adair County.

transportation

Iowa DOT seeks public opinion on I-80 planning study

By CAITLIN WARE

Fontanelle Observer

The Iowa Department of Transportation has released a planning study to evaluate the condition of Interstate 80.

Started in May 2016, the study will look at the route’s current condition, and how to improve it, which could impact overpasses in Adair County.

The considerations in the study include deciding if portions of I-80 should be expanded to six lanes, requiring construction on the overpasses above each section. Each overhead pass is being evaluated based on average daily traffic, condition, minimum out of distance travel and maximum out of distance travel. If an alternate route is feasible, there is the possibility of overpass closures. If other routes are not an option, the overpass might be considered viable for construction. 

Five overpasses in Adair County were looked at during an evaluation of overhead structures. They are located at Gibbon Avenue, Fontanelle Road, Riverside Avenue, Trenton Avenue and York Avenue. At an average of 110 cars per day, Trenton Avenue is the most traveled of the five. Gibbon Avenue — with an average of 25 cars per day — was one of the least frequently visited overpasses of the 64 evaluated in the study. 

All five of the overpasses were rated on a scale from one to five, with one being the highest priority to replace due to being a regional access point, and five as the lowest priority to replace because it serves mostly local needs. York Avenue, Fontanelle Road and Gibbon Road were rated a four, a low priority because minimal hardship would occur if they were removed. Riverside Avenue and Trenton Avenue were rated a three, ranking them an average priority to replace because their removal could cause hardship to local drivers. 

“We’re looking at does it make sense to improve those, replace those (or) tear them down,” said Scott Suhr, district transportation planner for Iowa DOT. “Some (of) these bridges are going to need to be replaced. Does it make sense to invest that kind of money in a low volume road?”

Currently, the estimated cost of an overpass construction site is between $2 million and $3 million, according to Suhr. A county road over I-80 is $1.3 million, and a stretch of I-80 over a county road is $1.9 million.  But those numbers do not include any additional costs of pavement, earthwork, utility relocation or managing traffic.  

As more analyses are conducted for an estimated two years, a technical report for the public to review and comment on will be released at www.iowadot.gov/interstatestudy/PELStudy. Upcoming reports cover viability of truck only lanes and viability of alternate route improvements. Pre-recorded online meetings are also available on the website for public review, and interested parties can sign up for email or text notification containing updates on the study. 

“It’s a study, no decisions have been finalized, Suhr said. “What we’re looking for are some thoughts on the public involvement plan. We’re trying to do what makes sense for the entire system.”

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