CONSTRUCTION ON INTERSTATE 29 THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR IS UNDERWAY MONDAY.

IT'S PART OF THE NEXT PHASE OF THE WESLEY PARKWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CLOSED THE I-29 NORTHBOUND RAMP TO WESLEY PARKWAY MONDAY MORNING.

IT'S TO COMPLETE PAVING OF TEMPORARY DETOURS AND WILL BE CLOSED FOR AROUND TWO WEEKS.

THIS SPRING AND SUMMER WILL SEE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION  ON THE ENTIRE INTERSTATE 29 CORRIDOR THROUGH SIOUX CITY.

IOWA D-O-T SPOKESMAN DAKIN SCHULTZ SAYS IT'S THE FIRST TIME ALL MAJOR SEGMENTS WILL BE IMPACTED DURING THE SAME YEAR.
    

THE VETS BRIDGE  INTERCHANGES WILL BE RECONFIGURED OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS:

SCHULTZ SAYS MORE WORK IS SCHEDULED FOR THE HAMILTON AND SINGING HILLS AREAS OF I-29 ALSO:

THERE WILL ALSO BE RETAINING WALL WORK BETWEEN THE FLOYD RIVER AND BACON CREEK ALONG I-29.

IF WEATHER CONDITIONS ALLOW FOR IT, CONSTRUCTION ON  INTERSTATE 29 THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY.
 

ON MONDAY THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL WILL RECONSIDER A REQUEST BY THE CITY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE PART OF LEIF ERICKSON PARK FOR A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

LAST NOVEMBER 7TH THE COUNCIL VOTED TO DEFER ACTION ON THE CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL UNTIL THIS JUNE 4TH, BUT MOVED UP THE DISCUSSION TO THIS MONDAY, MARCH 5TH, BY SCHOOL BOARD REQUEST.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER JEFF HANSON SAYS THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE SAME 28-E AGREEMENT PROPOSED IN NOVEMBER:

BUT IF THE COUNCIL VOTES DOWN THE PROPOSAL, THAT EFFECTIVELY WILL REMOVE LEIF ERICKSON FROM ANY FURTHER CONSIDERATION AS A SITE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL.

MAYOR BOB SCOTT SAYS IT WILL BE A TOUGH DECISION EITHER WAY.

SCOTT SAYS HE'S TRYING TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON THE ISSUE LEADING UP TO MONDAY'S VOTE. BESIDES THAT PARK, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO LOOKING AT THE HUBBARD PARK-SUNKEN GARDENS AREA AROUND 28TH AND JONES AS A POSSIBLE LOCATION FOR BRYANT ELEMENTARY'S REPLACEMENT.

SCOTT SAYS THAT SITE ALSO HAS ITS SHARE OF ISSUES:

SCOTT SAYS GETTING 17 RESIDENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO GIVE UP THEIR HOMES WOULD NOT BE EASY TO ACCOMPLISH:

SCOTT AGREES THAT BRYANT DOES NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAYS AFTER TOURING IT A MONTH AGO HE THINKS IT MAY BE THE WORST SCHOOL BUILDING IN THE CITY AND THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE KIDS ATTENDING IT.

SIOUX CITY HAS RECEIVED A TWO MILLION DOLLAR FEDERAL GRANT FOR RAIL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SOUTHBRIDGE INDUSTRIAL PARK.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER JEFF HANSON SAYS THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO BUILD AN INDUSTRIAL "LEAD TRACK" AND DROP AND PULL YARD:

HANSON AND A CITY CONTINGENT JUST RETURNED FROM WASHINGTON D.C....WHERE THEY WERE SEEKING FUNDING FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MARTY DOUGHERTY SAYS RAIL SERVICE IS CRITICAL TO COMPANIES LOOKING TO BUILD AT SOUTHBRIDGE:

THE CITY HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED ANOTHER THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT FUNDS FOR THE SIX-POINT-SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.