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

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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

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

-3-

One of the problems with the existing route of U.S. 61 is that there is an eighty square block residential area sandwiched between the highway on one side and the railroad tracks on the other side. A problem that exists with route 4A is that there are sixty-three families who would remain south of route 4A, if it were constructed. If DOT proposal number 2 was selected then there would be approximately 302 families south of the proposed highway. For these reasons the portion of the DOT proposal number 2 east of 23rd Street would not be advisable. However that portion to the west of 23rd Street is feasible and should be given serious consideration.

DOT PROPOSAL NUMBER 3

This proposal reads, "Alternate 3 with north-south spurs and special truck routes should be considered. Proposed alternate 3 could carry inter-city truck traffic, along with regular passenger car traffic. Trucks into Fort Madison would be routed on present U.S. 61. The north-south spurs would carry light weight passenger car traffic into and out of the central city."

Alternate 3 leaves the present alignment of U.S. 61 on the curve just beyond the beginning of the proposed highway project. it follows a northeasterly direction crossing Iowa 2 approximately 1500 feet northwest of the present U.S. Iowa 2 junction. The alternate follows an alignment just south of the mobile home park and just north of the DuPont factor in northwest Fort Madison. From this point alternate 3 continues in a northeasterly direction crossing the north corporation line of Fort Madison. It curves back to the east just north of the Fort Madison High School and follows an alignment just north of the corporation line for approximately two miles then curves to the southeast entering fort Madison corporate limits at approximately the extension of 6th street.

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-3- One of the problems with the existing route of U.S. 61 is that there is an eighty square block residential area sandwiched between the highway on one side and the railroad tracks on the other side. A problem that exists with route 4A is that there are sixty-three families who would remain south of route 4A, if it were constructed. If DOT proposal number 2 was selected then there would be approximately 302 families south of the proposed highway. For these reasons the portion of the DOT proposal number 2 east of 23rd Street would not be advisable. However that portion to the west of 23rd Street is feasible and should be given serious consideration. DOT PROPOSAL NUMBER 3 This proposal reads, "Alternate 3 with north-south spurs and special truck routes should be considered. Proposed alternate 3 could carry inter-city truck traffic, along with regular passenger car traffic. Trucks into Fort Madison would be routed on present U.S. 61. The north-south spurs would carry light weight passenger car traffic into and out of the central city." Alternate 3 leaves the present alignment of U.S. 61 on the curve just beyond the beginning of the proposed highway project. it follows a northeasterly direction crossing Iowa 2 approximately 1500 feet northwest of the present U.S. Iowa 2 junction. The alternate follows an alignment just south of the mobile home park and just north of the DuPont factor in northwest Fort Madison. From this point alternate 3 continues in a northeasterly direction crossing the north corporation line of Fort Madison. It curves back to the east just north of the Fort Madison High School and follows an alignment just north of the corporation line for approximately two miles then curves to the southeast entering fort Madison corporate limits at approximately the extension of 6th street.