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Hwy 71 Project Through Lakes Corridor Enters 3rd Phase

March 08, 2024 Steve Schwaller

(Arnolds Park)– We’ve reached the half way mark of the Highway 71 project through the lakes corridor. That word from Dakin Schultz of the Iowa Department of Transportation. He outlined what the work will consist of for this part of the project at an informational meeting Thursday evening. The work gets underway Monday, weather permitting. It will involve construction on the western half of the intersection at Broadway Street in Arnolds Park and on the northbound lane from Broadway north to Ackley Street. In Okoboji the work will be taking place from north of Sanborn Avenue to Stakeout Road.

Through traffic will once again be detoured on Highways 86 and 9. A detour for northbound local traffic in Arnolds Park will take Broadway to Iowa Street to Ackley Street. In Okoboji, traffic on Stakeout Road destined for northbound Highway 71 will be detoured onto Exchange Street. Having said that, Schultz says as was the case in previous phases, access will still be maintained for businesses…

“When I say they’re maintained that may not be like you see it today. We utilize the black on orange signs to identify the businesses and the altered access points. A lot of times during construction we work with the businesses and the neighbors to try and keep access, maybe one access open, to several of the different locations but it’s a process that is not only in the lakes area but we do it in other places and it’s trying to minimize that impact recognizing that the businesses just can’t afford to be shut down for months while we do the reconstruction.”

Schultz says the general contractor, Cedar Valley Corporation, will have a jumpstart compared to a year ago thanks to the abnormally warm weather…

“You know last year the contractor had to utilize something called ground heaters. They’re these machines that do exactly that. It’s not too cryptic, the name. They warm the ground so they can work. They don’t have that this year, so. That ground is ready to be worked and the contractor is ready to go. It’s not only this project but we see a lot of projects that want to get going this next Monday, get those crews going, get that work started. Earlier they start, hopefully the more they get done in this stage three.”

Schultz also addressed concerns about the transition in lanes just north of Emerald Hills Golf Course. He says talks are underway with the cities of Arnolds Park and West Okoboji about shifting that further south, toward 202nd Street…

“We’ve been working with the communities of Arnolds Park and West Okoboji about the possibility of looking at extending that. Part of it there wants to be some evaluation of the operation through, but we continue the communication through that. We’ve also been in contact with Milford about three lane through Milford. I know their streets committee has reviewed that and that eventually will go to the full council for review. The nice thing about the three lane, it’s got, it can handle a lot of traffic but it slows traffic, it makes it safer especially for those exiting U.S. 71 trying to make the left turns.”

Schultz also addressed issues with the new stoplights at the intersection of Highway 71 and Lake Street. He says there’s been an issue with equipment and software and that a temporary work-around is in place until a more permanent fix can be made.

This particular phase of the Highway 71 project is scheduled for completion May 24th.