(Spirit Lake)– It’s a long shot, but at long last badly needed improvements may be in the offing for Highway 86 between Highway nine and the Minnesota border.
Dickinson County Engineer Dan Eckert told the board of supervisors Tuesday he’s been in contact recently with the regional office of the Iowa Department of Transportation regarding that matter. He says the D-O-T is applying for federal funding through the TEA (Transportation Enhancement Act) 21 program. If awarded, Eckert says the grant would pay about 10 percent of the project, which has a total estimated cost of 10 million dollars. Of that, seven million would be for grading and construction with the remaining three million going for wetland mitigation and engineering.
Eckert says it’s likely Highway 86 would remain a two-lane road with enhancements. He says it’s likely portions of the road would be realigned; hills would be reduced; and the road and shoulders would be widened. Eckert says improvements would also likely be made to a series of dangerous curves at the Minnesota border where numerous accidents have taken place over the years.
Highway 86 between Highway nine and the Minnesota border has long been a source of concern with Dickinson county officials as well as those from neighboring counties who see the road a vital corridor for economic development in the region.
Eckert says it’s likely D-O-T representatives will be meeting soon with Dickinson county supervisors, but as of now a date for such a meeting hasn’t been set.
Eckert says it’s likely the state will request the county come up with some local funds to match the federal grant if it’s awarded.
