Iowa Transportation Commission approves additional highway work
AMES, Iowa – Dec. 13, 2011 – Today, at their meeting in Ames, the Iowa Transportation Commission approved an amendment to the 2012-2016 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program (Program) that will advance the letting of some highway projects into fiscal year (FY) 2012 and add others to the Program.
This Program amendment is possible because of additional funding becoming available after the Program was approved in June. The additional funding is the result of favorable construction project lettings (bid prices were lower than programmed amounts for some projects), Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) budget savings and receipt of federal funding that exceeded forecast amounts. It is projected that this amendment will result in FY 2012 being the largest program year in the Iowa DOT’s history.
Due to the timing of the additional funding, projects were selected that can be developed and scheduled for bidding this fiscal year, and begin construction in 2012. This includes projects such as pavement resurfacing and bridge reconstruction. Larger corridor projects are not able to be advanced at this time due to development schedules.
The amendment advanced one bridge and six interstate stewardship projects to FY 2012; modified the programmed amounts for two projects scheduled for FY 2012; and added 19 new projects involving investments in interstate and noninterstate pavement preservation. Construction of these projects is expected to begin in 2012. A list of the project changes for the highway section of the Program can be viewed at http://www.iowadot.gov/program_management/five_year.html.
While this amendment provides much needed funding to improve the state roadway system, there remains significant uncertainty in future funding. In particular, federal funding could be significantly reduced in federal FY 2013 because federal revenue flowing into the Highway Trust Fund is not sufficient to sustain existing funding levels. The Iowa Transportation Commission continues to closely monitor funding and will make any necessary changes during the development of the 2013-2017 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program next spring.
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For more information, contact: Jon Ranney at 515-239-1500 or [email protected]