For anyone who has ever had the misfortune of attempting the I-80/I-380 interchange, this is good news:
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will hold a location design public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, in Iowa City to discuss the proposed improvement of the Interstate 80/Interstate 380/U.S. 218/Iowa 27 interchange in Johnson County. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the environmental assessment (EA) completed for this project, the two alternatives, the build and no-build, carried forward for further review and their anticipated impacts. The public is invited to attend the hearing anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. at Iowa City West High School, 2901 Melrose Ave.
The build alternative provides for replacing the four loops in the interchange with directional ramps; widening I-80 to eight lanes from the Ireland Avenue interchange, two miles west of I-380, east to near the Coral Ridge/Iowa 965 interchange and widening I-380/U.S. 218/Iowa 27 to six lanes from north of the Melrose Avenue interchange north approximately four miles to just south of the Forevergreen Road overpass. I-80 mainline widening would provide four 12-foot wide travel lanes in each direction, 12-foot inside and outside shoulders and a closed median with barrier. The I-380/U.S. 218/Iowa 27 roadway would provide three 12-foot wide travel lanes in each direction with 12-foot wide inside and outside shoulders and a grass median. Access rights were previously acquired for I-80, I-380 and U.S. 218/Iowa 27. Jasper and Kansas avenues would be modified to accommodate the improvement. A new bridge would be constructed on Jasper Avenue over I-80. Kansas Avenue Southwest would be relocated to the west and south and would provide access to residences from the south instead of the north.
Because of funding constraints, it may be necessary to construct the build alternative in two or more construction phases. If adequate funds are available, the improvement could be constructed without staging.
The no-build alternative would be the continuation of the highway system as it exists. It would not address the safety needs, increasing traffic volumes and substandard geometrics of the roadway within the project corridor. This alternative would not satisfy the project purpose and need requirements. However, it is carried forward to serve as a baseline for comparison with the build alternative.
Coralville Creekside Park, a Section 4(f) resource, is within the proposed project limits and is subject to protection as a public park/recreation area. Interested citizens will have an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed de minimis effect of the system interchange project on portions of Coralville Creekside Park. De minimis impacts on publicly owned parks, recreation areas, and wildlife and waterfowl refuges are defined as those that do not “adversely affect the activities, features and attributes” pursuant to Section 4(f) United States Code, Title 49, section 303.
This public hearing will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. No formal presentation will be made. Iowa DOT staff members will be present with plans, displays and related information to discuss the project informally. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend the hearing to express their views and ask questions about the proposed improvement and the EA.
Details of the proposed improvement can be found at iowadot.gov.
Oral and written statements will be accepted at the hearing. In addition, written statements and related exhibits may be submitted to the Office of Location and Environment, Iowa DOT, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010. All written material received by Oct. 12, 2009, will be included in the hearing transcript and considered when making project related decisions.
The EA for this project is available for public review and comment. A copy will be available for inspection at the hearing. The EA documents the purpose and need of the project and the anticipated impacts to the natural and human environment. Copies are available for viewing at the following two locations in the area.
- Coralville Public Library, 1401 Fifth St., Coralville
- Springmier Community Library, 311 W. Marengo Road, Tiffin
Individual copies can be requested by contacting James Rost at the contact information above or telephone 515-239-1798 or Lubin Quinones, division administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Iowa Division Office, 105 Sixth St., Ames, Iowa 50010, or telephone 515-233-7300.
A review deadline of Oct. 12, 2009, has been set for receipt of comments on the EA. All comments received on the EA will be considered in the evaluation of the environmental impacts of the project. Comments on the EA should be submitted to James Rost at the contact information above.
For general information regarding the proposed improvement or the public hearing, contact Catherine Cutler, District 6 planner, District 6 Office, Iowa DOT, P.O. Box 3150, 430 16th Ave. S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406-3150, telephone 319-364-0235, e-mail catherine.cutler@dot.iowa.gov.
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 Ms. Cutler by Sept. 9, 2009, so arrangements can be made.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve almost been involved in or witnessed horrible accidents at this interchange. I will say, however, that the makeshift improvements — the access lane when coming off of I-380 south to I-80 toward Coralville, for instance — have made the exchange better. Still, there is much room for improvement.
