OFFICIALS WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GAVE THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL A PROGRESS REPORT MONDAY ON WHAT OPTION WOULD BE PREFERRED TO REPLACE THE CITY’S AGING GORDON DRIVE VIADUCT THAT IS A MAIN CONNECTOR ROUTE FROM MORNINGSIDE TO THE DOWNTOWN.
D-O-T SPOKESMAN DAKIN SCHULTZ SAYS A LOT OF PLANNING AND DISCUSSION HAS BEEN GOING ON REGARDING THE VIADUCT THAT ORIGINALLY WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1930’S:
VIADUCT3 OC………IN THE PROJECT. :21
SCHULTZ TALKED ABOUT TWO MAIN ALTERNATIVES BEING CONSIDERED, WITH THE FIRST BEING CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW VIADUCT NEXT TO THE CURRENT ONE:
VIADUCT4 OC……….OF THE BRIDGE. :22
HE SAYS THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE IS MORE COMPLICATED, INVOLVING TWO STRUCTURES:
VIADUCT5 OC…….THE SOUTH HALF. :13
THERE ARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR INTERSECTING WITH HIGHWAY 75 /LEWIS BOULEVARD AND A WAY INTO THE OLD STOCKYARDS AREA.
A SERIES OF MEETINGS TO FINALIZE THE DESIGN AND DISCUSS RIGHT OF WAY AND OTHER PLANNING ISSUES WILL TAKE PLACE INTO THE NEXT YEAR.
SCHULTZ SAYS THAT INCLUDES A PUBLIC MEETING IN THE SPRING OR SUMMER AND A MEETING WITH AFFECTED LANDOWNERS IN APRIL.
THE D-O-T WILL ALSO WORK ON THE EXISTING VIADUCT NEXT YEAR TO SHORE IT UP TO WITHSTAND THE NEW CONSTRUCTION COMING IN A FEW YEARS.
