Sioux Center is preparing for a major Iowa Department of Transportation investment in improving Highway 75.
The DOT has committed more than $20 million in its five-year improvement plan to address needs on Sioux Center’s main roadway: removing the aging pavement, replacing it with an enhanced four-lane roadway, adding safety features and updating sidewalks.
Sioux Center staff has met with the DOT to begin discussions on preliminary design. Construction is set for 2023 and 2024, with right of way acquisitions for the project slated for 2022. Sioux Center will partner with the DOT throughout the design and construction.
“This project is going to be part of Sioux Center for a long time, and we want it to reflect what Sioux Center is and what we want it to be,” said City Manager Scott Wynja. “We are going to lead the engineering and administration of this project because that keeps our local voice at the center of planning.”
In safety and design planning, the city is asking for lane widths that promote calm traffic, pedestrian safe havens in medians, adding pedestrian crossing features, some right-turn-only intersections, and maintaining existing speed limits.
“Safety is of highest priority, and we are OK with investing in that, making this a project that Sioux Center is proud of,” said Sioux Center Utility Manager Murray Hulstein.
Estimates show the project may widen the highway up to 10-15 feet on each side, but many of these details are yet to be determined in the design process.
“We recognize there will be an impact for property owners along Highway 75, and we will be communicating with them throughout the process as we know more,” Wynja said.
When Highway 75 is reconstructed, Sioux Center Municipal Utilities will take the opportunity to update aging infrastructure buried under the highway to save additional costs. Sioux Center will contribute about $9 million for utility relocation, street lighting, design, administration, and safety enhancements for the project, matched by the more than $20 million from the DOT.