New detour route possible for future Highway 3 work

Citizens like Justin Navrkal, of 820 2nd St. S.E., who attended Tuesday's Le Mars City Council, said an influx of heavy trucks and additional traffic would be a danger to children in the neighborhoods along the detour route.

The detour would route traffic entering Le Mars from the east on Highway 3, south on 14th Avenue Northeast to Second Street Southeast, then west to Sixth Avenue, then north to Highway 3 on Fourth Avenue East.

Damage to city streets from the traffic is another concern about that detour route.

A new option, presented by Councilman John Rexwinkel following a public hearing on the project, detours west-bound traffic at the Oyens corner on Highway 3 rather than at the east edge of Le Mars.

Detoured traffic would be routed south on County Road K-64 from the Oyens corner to the County Road C-38 junction. Traffic would then proceed west to the Highway 60/75 Bypass by NIPCO, just south of Le Mars.

City Administrator Scott Langel, agreed that option would reduce possible traffic hazards and street damage.

He will meet with the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) to seek its agreement on the latest recommendation.

Should Rexwinkel's suggestion be accepted, Langel said, the city will be responsible for an estimated $2,000 in costs for the needed detour signage.

Councilman Ken Nelson said he felt this expense would be "a mere pittance" compared to other costs in the $714,000 project and requested Langel proceed with getting IDOT approval.

Nelson also asked Langel to notify local businesses and trucking industries of the detour to cut down truck traffic in the area as much as possible during construction.

Bids on the Highway 3 project are to be let June 16 at the IDOT office in Ames. City council members expect to act on the contract immediately or at a special June 23 council session.

Construction is scheduled to begin no later than Aug. 24 with completion within 35 working days.

Langel noted the Highway 3 widening project near Floyd Valley Hospital and a DOT resurfacing of a portion of Highway 3 between Le Mars and Remsen will likely be under way at the same time.

This, he said, will require additional cooperative efforts between the city and state.

A maximum of $400,000 in federal funding is available for the Highway 3 widening project with the city's price tag at $314,000 plus engineering costs.

A second public hearing, on the Business 75 repair, curb and gutter project, was also held Tuesday.

Bids for the $540,500 project are scheduled to be opened June 16 with council action on contracts shortly thereafter.

Construction on the Business 75 project is expected to start no later than Aug. 31 with completion set at 35 working days later.

A total of $360,000 in federal money is available for the construction. The city's share of the cost is estimated at $180,500 plus engineering costs.