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  • Informational Meeting Held As Work On Next Phase Of Hwy 71 Through Lakes Corridor Is About To Begin

Informational Meeting Held As Work On Next Phase Of Hwy 71 Through Lakes Corridor Is About To Begin

August 16, 2023 Steve Schwaller

(Arnolds Park)– A public informational meeting was held Tuesday evening in advance of the second phase of work on Highway 71 through the lakes corridor beginning September 5th. Dakin Schultz, a transportation director with the Iowa Department of Transportation’s regional office in Sioux City, says of the four main stages of construction, this upcoming one will likely cause the most inconveniences for motorists. In addition to a closure of the causeway between Arnolds Park and Okoboji for four weeks beginning September 18th, Schultz says there will be additional detours for local traffic in both communities…

“On top of that we also have the work that’s going to occur between Lakeshore and Sanborn in Okoboji so that’s a longer stretch and that will be a closure with a local detour which is Sanborn to Julia to Lakeshore. And then we’ve got the work down in Arnolds Park from Benit up through Broadway. So we are going to take that southbound traffic and move that off ’71 to accommodate that work, so that will be Broadway to Lake.”

Schultz says another goal this fall is to get the new stoplights at the entrance to the Arnolds Park Amusement Park operational…

“We had not made them active because the heads did not line up with the pavement markings, the lane lines. So one of the things that we’ve talked about with the contractor is making some adjustments so we can make those signals active. That will be accomplished during the fall construction as well.”

Schultz says the stoplights were positioned the way they are because the highway will be reduced from four lanes to three from there south…

“It’s already three lane to the north from that, just beyond Lake Street before you get to Dam. And one of the things we discussed with the community, with Arnolds Park, was extending that three lane further south past Lake Street and it was for safety purposes, for traffic handling. That right now you’ve got your through lane both directions also functions as a left turn lane and it presents some confusion and so when you look at traffic handling and safety, having that dedicated center left turn will work nicely for this area.”

Schultz says crews with Cedar Valley Corporation, the general contractor, will continue work through the fall for as long as the weather allows. He says the next phase in the spring will consist of additional intersection work. He says the goal to get the project completed in the fall of 2024 remains, but Schultz says depending on how things go, they may have to come back the following spring for touch up work, such as pavement markings.

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