OSKALOOSA — A feasibility study group with a $510,000 federal government 80/20 matching earmark is analyzing where to locate a 20-mile transportation corridor from Pella north to Interstate 80.
The feasibility study will review terrain, existing roadway conditions, locations and crash data on existing routes to determine a traffic model. The traffic model will be used to determine the type of corridor and placement.
The group is looking at several different routes a corridor could take north to Interstate 80, including some in Mahaska County. A sub consultant to the firm doing the feasibility study, Veenstra & Kimm, of West Des Moines, in a letter to Jerry Nusbaum, Mahaska County engineer, indicated they were interested in several Mahaska County roads.
“My request to your office is for a copy of as-built/record drawings for the following County Roads within your jurisdiction in the area of interest,” states the May 13 letter sent to Nusbaum by Veenstra & Kimm and signed by Greg Roth, project manager. “In Mahaska County, Old Highway 102 from west County line to New Sharon and County Roads T33 and T38 north of Old 102 to north County line.”
In a recent conversation, Nusbaum indicated U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell secured the money and the feasibility study group was looking at three different routes out of Pella — one west, one north and one east.
Pella Public Works Director Denny Buyert said members of the study group include county engineers, supervisors, community development, sub consultants and the engineering consulting firm, CH2M HILL, Inc.
Buyert said the feasibility study would determine the type of roadway required and its placement.
“So, to do a feasibility study of this magnitude, you know doubt need to look a couple miles each side of Pella,” Buyert said. “And potentially more, but right at the moment it’s a couple of miles each side of Pella. It’s actually funnel-shaped all the way to Interstate 80.
“We don’t know if it will be an improved two lane, super-two they call it, or a four-lane,” he said.
One reason for the connector from Pella is to improve freight movement in and out of the city and to replace existing narrow, curved and hilly roads that for the most part lack shoulders.
The feasibility study should be completed by October. The project is expected to cost in the millions and last from six to 10 years.
Herald City Editor Michael Schaffer can be reached by email at mschaffer@oskyherald.com
Local News
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Herald photo by Michael Schaffer
June 2, 2008
Group looking for connector to I80
Mahaska County old Highway 102 and roads T33 and T38 are being considered
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