DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974 | 1974-12-20 H.E. Gunnerson to Mr. James Frazier Page 17

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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1974-12-20 H.E. Gunnerson to Mr. James Frazier Page 17

-6-

THE CITY'S PROPOSAL

Mr. Frazier's November 15, 1974 letter states that a compromise alternative might be a combination of any of the four DOT proposals. The answer might very well be here.

The City of Fort Madison is proposing that the relocation of U.S. 61 include a combination of DOT proposals number 2 and 4. The City's proposal would include:

(1) Using the west end portion of route 4A from 40th to 25th Streets. This is also a part of DOT proposal number 2.

(2) Since a bridge would have to be constructed in the 25th Street area in order for route 4A to cross Dry Creek, it is proposed that a longer and higher bridge be constructed so as to cross both Dry Creek and the Burlington Northern railroad tracks. This will place the highway to the south of the tracks.

(3) The proposed highway would continue to parallel the railroad tracks until it reaches 13th Street. Since a bridge will have to be constructed in order for alternate 4A to cross French Creek near 13th Street, it is proposed that a longer and higher bridge be constructed so as to cross both the Burlington Northern railroad tracks and French Creek. This will once again place the highway on the north side of the tracks.

(4) The proposed route would then continue to parallel the railroad tracks on the north side until it reaches the present alignment on Avenue H near 10th Street.

As was suggested in DOT proposal number 4, there is also the possibility of moving the railroad tracks to the south from 13th to 25th Street and then placing the highway on the railroad alignment. The decision to bridge over the tracks or to move the tracks for this twelve block stretch of the route would be made according to the cost differential. Regardless of what the decision is, the route would have the same advantages.

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-6- THE CITY'S PROPOSAL Mr. Frazier's November 15, 1974 letter states that a compromise alternative might be a combination of any of the four DOT proposals. The answer might very well be here. The City of Fort Madison is proposing that the relocation of U.S. 61 include a combination of DOT proposals number 2 and 4. The City's proposal would include: (1) Using the west end portion of route 4A from 40th to 25th Streets. This is also a part of DOT proposal number 2. (2) Since a bridge would have to be constructed in the 25th Street area in order for route 4A to cross Dry Creek, it is proposed that a longer and higher bridge be constructed so as to cross both Dry Creek and the Burlington Northern railroad tracks. This will place the highway to the south of the tracks. (3) The proposed highway would continue to parallel the railroad tracks until it reaches 13th Street. Since a bridge will have to be constructed in order for alternate 4A to cross French Creek near 13th Street, it is proposed that a longer and higher bridge be constructed so as to cross both the Burlington Northern railroad tracks and French Creek. This will once again place the highway on the north side of the tracks. (4) The proposed route would then continue to parallel the railroad tracks on the north side until it reaches the present alignment on Avenue H near 10th Street. As was suggested in DOT proposal number 4, there is also the possibility of moving the railroad tracks to the south from 13th to 25th Street and then placing the highway on the railroad alignment. The decision to bridge over the tracks or to move the tracks for this twelve block stretch of the route would be made according to the cost differential. Regardless of what the decision is, the route would have the same advantages.