DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974 | 1974-12-20 H.E. Gunnerson to Mr. James Frazier Page 2

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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1974-12-20 H.E. Gunnerson to Mr. James Frazier Page 2

Mr. James Frazier
Page Two
December 20, 1974

gradient problem from the top of the bluffs down to the central business district area of Fort Madison.

4. Because of the lack of space in certain areas between the railroad tracks and the Mississippi River, it simply is not feasible to relocate the railroad tracks south and construct Alternate 4A on the existing railroad alignment. The City of Fort Madison's review of the proposed DOT Alternate 4 clearly points out the problems involved with this suggestion.

As a result of the above, it is recommended that segments of DOT Alternate Proposals 2 and 4 be given consideration for further study with eventual comparison to Alternate 4A. It is suggested that the west portion of Alternate Route 4A from 40th to 25th Streets, as outlined in the DOT Alternate 2, be combined with the eastern portion from 25th to approximately 10th street as described in DOT Alternate 4. This would include and investigation of both moving the railroad tracks to the south from 25th easterly as well as leaving the railroad tracks in place but crossing them on structure and placing relocated US 61 on the south side of the tracks.

If the combination of these two DOT proposals would be a satisfactory alternative from your point of view, it would then be proposed that our staff assemble cost, economic and social data for this alternative, with variations to include moving the tracks as well as crossing the tracks. This information would then be compared with similar data for Alternate 4A in order to reach a determination regarding the most feasible alternate.

Please advise if this is acceptable so that studies can begin as soon as possible. If you have any questions or comments concerning the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely, 
[[Signature]]H. E. Gunnerson by
[[?]]
H. E. Gunnerson
Director-Chief Engineer

HEG/RLH/nec
cc: Raymond Kassel
Asher Schroeder
Virgil Butler
Bob Humphrey
Leon Larson, FHWA
Mayor Rainey
Paul Sly

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Mr. James Frazier Page Two December 20, 1974 gradient problem from the top of the bluffs down to the central business district area of Fort Madison. 4. Because of the lack of space in certain areas between the railroad tracks and the Mississippi River, it simply is not feasible to relocate the railroad tracks south and construct Alternate 4A on the existing railroad alignment. The City of Fort Madison's review of the proposed DOT Alternate 4 clearly points out the problems involved with this suggestion. As a result of the above, it is recommended that segments of DOT Alternate Proposals 2 and 4 be given consideration for further study with eventual comparison to Alternate 4A. It is suggested that the west portion of Alternate Route 4A from 40th to 25th Streets, as outlined in the DOT Alternate 2, be combined with the eastern portion from 25th to approximately 10th street as described in DOT Alternate 4. This would include and investigation of both moving the railroad tracks to the south from 25th easterly as well as leaving the railroad tracks in place but crossing them on structure and placing relocated US 61 on the south side of the tracks. If the combination of these two DOT proposals would be a satisfactory alternative from your point of view, it would then be proposed that our staff assemble cost, economic and social data for this alternative, with variations to include moving the tracks as well as crossing the tracks. This information would then be compared with similar data for Alternate 4A in order to reach a determination regarding the most feasible alternate. Please advise if this is acceptable so that studies can begin as soon as possible. If you have any questions or comments concerning the above, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, [[Signature]]H. E. Gunnerson by [[?]] H. E. Gunnerson Director-Chief Engineer HEG/RLH/nec cc: Raymond Kassel Asher Schroeder Virgil Butler Bob Humphrey Leon Larson, FHWA Mayor Rainey Paul Sly