Proposed Bridge Replacements on Iowa 1 in Washington County to Be Discussed July 18
AMES, Iowa – June 27, 2013 – The Iowa Department of Transportation will hold a public information meeting Thursday, July 18, to discuss the proposed bridge replacements on Iowa 1 over the Skunk River, 1.4 miles north of the Iowa 1/Iowa 78 junction, and over the West Fork of Crooked Creek, 1.3 miles south of the Iowa 1/Iowa 92 junction, in Washington County.
The public is invited to attend the meeting anytime between 5 and 6:30 p.m. at the Washington High School, 1111 S. B Ave. in Washington.
The meeting will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. Iowa DOT staff will be present to informally discuss the proposed bridge replacements. No formal presentation will be made.
The proposed improvements include replacing the bridges, reconstructing bridge approaches, installing guardrail, paving shoulders at the guardrail, and paving short segments of Portland cement concrete beyond the bridge approach pavement.
The Iowa DOT intends to construct both bridge projects at the same time and is requesting public input concerning the construction schedule. Iowa 1 is proposed to be closed to through traffic between Brighton and Washington during construction. The designated detour would use Iowa 92, Washington County roads W-55 and W-47, and Iowa 78.
Interpreter services will be provided for Spanish translation. The meeting space is accessible for persons with disabilities. However, if you require special accommodations at the meeting, please notify the Iowa DOT contact listed below by July 11.
For general information regarding the proposed improvements or public meeting, contact Jason Huddle, transportation planner, Iowa DOT District 5 Office, 307 W. Briggs, Fairfield, Iowa 52556, telephone 641-472-4171 or 800-766-4368, email [email protected].
Public input on proposed project impact
The Skunk River bridge replacement project will require the acquisition of right of way from Brighton Boat Access, a public recreational facility owned by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and managed by the Washington County Conservation Board. The entrance road to the access will be relocated as part of this proposed project. During construction, a temporary entrance to the boat access will remain open.
The Brighton Boat Access has been determined to be a Section 4(f) resource and the acquisition of right of way and entrance road relocation is expected to have a “de minimis” impact to the Section 4(f) resource.
Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, was enacted as a means of protecting publicly owned parks, recreation areas and wildlife/waterfowl refuges, as well as historic sites of local, state or national significance, from conversion to transportation uses. De minimis impacts are defined as those that, after consideration of any measure(s) to minimize harm (such as avoidance, minimization, mitigation or enhancement measures), do not adversely affect the activities, features and attributes of the Section 4(f) resource.
- The public is invited to review the proposed impacts of the Skunk River bridge project on the Brighton Boat Access by:
- Visiting http://www.iowadot.gov/pim.
- Mailing a request for information to Jorge Zamora, Office of Location and Environment, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010.
- Calling 515-239-1251 to request information.
- Emailing a request for information to [email protected].
The public comment period ends July 29, 2013. Comments may be submitted through the online comment form at the above website, via email to [email protected], or by mail to the address listed above.
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Federal and state laws prohibit employment and/or public accommodation discrimination on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran’s status. If you believe you have been discriminated against, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission at 800-457-4416 or Iowa Department of Transportation’s affirmative action officer. If you need accommodations because of a disability to access the Iowa Department of Transportation’s services, contact the agency’s affirmative action officer at 800-262-0003.