Interstate 80 coming into Iowa. Credit: Flickr user Nathan BushThe Iowa Transportation Commission (ITC) has signed off on the fiscal year 2016-2020 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program, which includes a forecast of $3.2 billion in highway right of way and construction projects.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) proposed the plan in early May.
“The Commission and Iowa DOT continue to recognize the critical importance of an effective and efficient interstate highway system,” the agencies said in statement. “The interstate highways connect all transportation systems in Iowa and allow major freight movements to occur delivering Iowa products to the world’s marketplace.”
State-owned bridges would get about $1.1 billion worth of work, with $1.3 billion going toward highway modernization and safety improvements. The funds come from a gas tax increase to 10 cents per gallon signed into law earlier this year.
Significant highway projects as part of the plan include Interstate 29 in Sioux City, the Interstate 73 Mississippi River bridge replacement in Bettendorf and the interstate system in the Council Bluffs area.
The plan also calls for adding capacity for four-lane work to U.S. 20, U.S. 30 and U.S. 61.
