Location design hearing for four-lane U.S. 20 to be held August 26 in Correctionville

An open forum location design public hearing will be held Aug. 26 to discuss the proposed improvement of U.S. 20 in Woodbury, Ida and Sac counties. The improvement begins 3.5 miles east of Moville and extends east 44 miles to Jackson Avenue, west of the north junction of U.S. 20 and U.S. 71, northwest of Early. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the environmental assessment (EA) completed for this project, the alternatives considered, along with their impacts, and the preferred alternative.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will hold the hearing at the Correctionville City Hall, 312 Driftwood St. The public is invited to attend anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. This public hearing will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. No formal presentation will be made. Oral and written statements will be accepted at the public hearing.

This improvement is being developed in four segments:

Segment 1 - from 3.5 miles east of Moville to Correctionville - The improvement would reconstruct two lanes and add a median and two new lanes to the north side of U.S. 20. This segment is 11 miles in length.

Segment 2 - U.S. 20 through Correctionville - The existing roadway would be widened from a two-lane facility to a five-lane facility with two lanes in each direction, a center turnlane, curbs and storm sewer. This segment is three miles in length.

Segment 3 - one mile east of Correctionville to Holstein - A median and two new lanes would be added to the south side of the existing two lanes. Some areas would require complete reconstruction of the existing highway to meet current design and safety standards. At Holstein, the existing two miles of four-lane roadway would be incorporated into the proposed improvement. This segment is 10 miles in length.

Segment 4 - Holstein to Jackson Avenue northwest of Early - A median and two new lanes would be added to the north side of U.S. 20. Some areas would require complete reconstruction of the existing highway to meet current design and safety standards. The segment is 18 miles in length.

The Iowa DOT in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has prepared an EA for this project. Copies can be obtained at the Iowa DOT headquarters or FHWA regional office, both in Ames. A copy of the EA will be available for inspection at the hearing and is also available for viewing at the Moville, Correctionville, Cushing, Holstein, Galva, Schaller, and Early libraries.

A review deadline of Sept. 15, 2008, has been established for receipt of comments on this document. All comments received on the EA by that date will be considered by the Iowa DOT and the FHWA in their evaluation of the environmental impacts of the project. Comments regarding the EA should be submitted to Jim Rost, Office of Location and Environment, Iowa DOT, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010.

Because the Van Houten House in Correctionville is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a Section 4(f) resource. With this notification, the public is invited to review and comment on the proposed de minimis 4(f) effect of the U.S. 20 project on the Van Houten House. The State Historic Preservation Office has determined that the U.S. 20 project will have no adverse effect on the Van Houten House. This determination is defined as a de minimis 4(f) impact.

For general information regarding the proposed improvement, or the public hearing, contact Dakin Schultz, Planner, District 3 Office, Iowa DDOT, P.O. Box 987, 2800 Gordon Drive, Sioux City, Iowa 51102-0987, telephone 712-276-1451 or 800-284-4368, e-mail dakin.schultz@dot.iowa.gov.

Written statements and related exhibits regarding the proposed improvement will be accepted at the hearing or may be submitted to the Office of Location and Environment, Iowa DOT. All material received by Sept. 15, 2008, will be included in the hearing transcript.

All persons interested in the project are invited to attend this hearing. The meeting room is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you require special accommodations at the hearing, please notify Mr. Schultz so arrangements can be made.