(Atlantic) The Iowa Department of Transportation will be meeting with some members of the Cass County Board of Supervisors and the County Engineer to discuss the DOT’s plans to close 570th Street at the I-80 underpass.
Scott Suhr, District Transportation Planner with the Iowa DOT, said this particular roadway was identified as part of the I-80 planning study that was started in 2016 and there has been two or three public involvement meetings as a result. He said with that study they identified several bridges across the I-80 corridor from west to east that are low volume roadways that serve very few vehicles and so they are looking at possibly eliminating a few of those.
“So, we reached out to Cass County to discuss that,” said Suhr. “As part of this incentive program, the DOT is offering $1.5 million per site to remove these structures. Obviously, it’s a result of these roadways that have changed their usage from the 1960’s to what it is today and so that’s the reason why we’re trying to eliminate some of these roadways that cost anywhere from two to three million dollars to replace a bridge.”
Suhr said right now the area of focus to turn I-80 into a 6-lane highway is in areas where there is higher volume of traffic.
“For example in Dallas and Polk counties; the Iowa City area, those types of area,” said Suhr.
Supervisor Steve Green had mentioned at the past two Board meetings that he had spoken with landowners in the area of the 570th Street I-80 underpass who would like to keep that roadway open. Scott Suhr said that is why they are meeting with members of the Board of Supervisors and the County Engineer to see what their thoughts are.
