The recommendation has been made to improve Highway 30 to what’s called a Super-Two and not a four-lane highway from Lisbon to DeWitt.
Many area officials and residents have been lobbying for the four-laning of the Highway for many years.
Department of Transportation Planner Sam Sea says the staff studied the highway from traffic to economic development and four-laning of Highway 30 in the Clinton-Cedar county area is not warranted.
Sea says a professional staff made the decision, but concedes public lobbying of the DOT commission or lawmakers and even the Governor could change that spending. The results of the study will be presented to the Commission at meeting in October.
The DOT Planner says from the time the decision was made to four-lane Highway 20 and not four lane Highway 30 is a switch of the Commission stance from expansion towards maintaining and improving current infrastructure.
Shea notes in Tama and Benton Counties the highway is being expanded, but the attitude overall is stewardship.
And-Sea says they studied the economic development issue about upgrading Highway 30 to four-lane
He added that there was support for the Super-Two at a recent regional meeting.
Sea says any changes to Highway 30 would be part of the five year plan which could make starting any work on Highway 30 at least six years in the future. And it would be done in small segments where reconstruction or rebuilding is needed.
Public input is still being taken on the issue according to Shea.
Link: Super-Two Highway Plan for Clinton/Cedar County
Link: DOT Handout on Clinton/Cedar County Plan
