(Spencer)– The Spencer Highway 71 bypass has fallen victim to revenue shortfalls being felt by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
D-O-T commissioners were presented with a five-year highway program on Thursday of this week, and the Spencer project was NOT included.
D-O-T officials say the agency faced a 300-million dollar projected revenue shortfall at this time last year for the 2002-2006 program. As a result, the commission delayed or withheld 200 million dollars in projects. They retained 100 million dollars in non-funded projects…which included the Spencer bypass…with the stipulation additional adjustments would be made later.
D-O-T officials say the agency’s 2003-2007 state and federal highway revenue projections remain consistent with last year’s estimates. Based on that and 50 million dollars in additional program considerations, the commission is currently faced with a 150 million dollar shortfall in what is necessary to fund the program. The commission directed the D-O-T to balance the program to within 50 million dollars of projected revenues, and the Spencer bypass was among the projects getting the ax.
The four-lane expansion of Highway 60 from north of LeMars to the Minnesota border is still in the program.
