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Editorial: Ideas needed for HHH & I-80
Op-Ed · September 01, 2016
The Iowa Department of Transportation and Johnson County Board of Supervisors ideas on improving roads and bridges in the West Branch area ought to encourage motorists and rural residents to share their thoughts.
The two government agencies are still in the preliminary phases and still collecting input, which is good because some of the ideas would include major impacts on traffic flow, including emergency services trying to reach rural residents.
Among the more significant ideas:
• Installing a roundabout at the intersection of Herbert Hoover Highway at the end of the westbound Interstate 80 off-ramp. The primary driver of this idea is safety.
Right now, HHH drivers cruise through that area at about 50 mph. However, cars and trucks leaving the off-ramp or entering the on-ramp are of particular concern.
Drivers unfamiliar with the intersection often cause dangerous situations when leaving eastbound HHH for the westbound on-ramp because they do not realize that they must yield almost immediately after turning left. While there have been many close calls with westbound HHH drivers, with many taking to the shoulder to avoid crashes, the need for a safer intersection is certainly quite high.
The visibility of that intersection plays into the low number of actual accidents, but the need for improvement is still vital to safety.
Not far to the east, though, vehicles coming off westbound I-80 have reduced visibility because of a combination of trees and bushes and curves. More actual crashes take place there, with vehicles traveling about the same speed as the other ramp intersection, but with sharper angles that would play into more T-bone crashes, which imperil occupants more severely.
A roundabout would certainly significantly contribute to reduced speeds, especially if combined with warning signs and rumble strips, though motorists would need to account for a few extra seconds of travel time.
• Increasing Interstate 80 to six lanes. The IDOT says that the traffic count — about 34,000 vehicles a day going by West Branch — by itself would not justify the expense of widening the road. However, IDOT knows that traffic increases significantly at the start and end of the University of Iowa’s school year, and for home football games, festivals and major concerts. Daily commutes regularly increase the number of cars and trucks on the road, but so long as no one crashes, the highway can handle it.
Yet crashes do happen from time to time, and IDOT recognizes that these frequently cause major slowdowns and often bring traffic to a complete stop, with backups reaching several miles at times. These backups often prompt drivers who can get off the highway to drive through West Branch’s downtown, and the city has expressed concerns over the toll on local roads and increased danger to pedestrians, especially if it happens near the start or end of the school day.
A third lane would reduce these backups and redirected traffic.
A major concern to widening I-80 is the expense of upgrading bridges to span the greater distances. When residents attended a meeting in July regarding the road improvements, they expressed concerns that IDOT might take down lesser-used bridges like Wapsi Avenue and Lower West Branch Road.
Farmers use these roads for faster connections to main thoroughfares, so convenience is a question. However, West Branch Fire Department and Johnson County Ambulance Service also use these bridges when responding to emergencies, from field fires to crash sites to medical calls.
The more time spent on gravel roads means slower response times, as well as increased danger to the emergency responders themselves, especially in winter.
For those wishing to share your thoughts with the IDOT, contact Cathy Cutler at catherine.cutler@dot.iowa.gov or 319-364-0235. To reach Johnson County Road Department, call 319-356-6046 or contact County Engineer Greg Parker at gparker@co.johnson.ia.us.
These are significant ideas coming from the state and county, and they need significant input from the community for the best solutions.
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