(Arnolds Park)– There’s a new development in efforts to get stop lights installed at the corner of Highway 71 and 202nd Street, or the “Taco House” corner just south of Arnolds Park.
Arnolds Park City Administrator Ron Walker tells KUOO news original projections put the cost of the project at about 700-thousand dollars. But he says an estimate from an engineering firm puts it at 416-thousand.
Under the proposed project, that cost would be split between the cities of Arnolds Park, Milford and West Okoboji. The county also has jurisdiction in that area, but the board of supervisors indicated again Tuesday they won’t participate, saying the particular area they currently have jurisdiction over will probably be annexed in the near future.
Walker says the D-O-T has informed them that turning lanes will have to be installed if the agency is going to be involved in anyway in the project. He says the latest cost estimate includes that provision.
Walker isn’t sure as to when the funding will be in place and the project could actually get started. He says the new cost estimates still need to be presented and acted upon by the cities that would be affected. They’re also applying for funding through a federal transportation program known as “U-STEP”. Walker says they don’t know when they’ll know the outcome of the application.
The intersection of Highway 71 and 202nd Street has a high accident rate…and officials fear the volume and severity of the wrecks will increase as that area continues to develop.
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