The group that’s been pushing for decades to make Highway 20 a four-lane roadway through northern Iowa is plans to make a “more aggressive” pitch. Shirley Phillips, president of the U.S. 20 Corridor Association, says it’s been difficult to get a clear answer on whether the feds or the state have been the roadblock thus far Phillips says Iowa’s congressional delegation tells her association the money is going to the Iowa D-O-T for the project and spending decisions are being made by state officials. But she says state transportation officials tell the group the state needs more federal money to advance the project. “So we’re going to work both ends against the middle, I guess,” Phillips says. The U.S. 20 Corridor Association was formed in the early 1960s, and Phillips says northwest Iowa needs a safe and efficient way to transport goods and workers as the area grows. She says Highway 20 can help divert east-west traffic across the state from congested Interstate-80. Seven miles of U.S. 20 are under construction right now, just west of Fort Dodge. Roxanne Carisch, C-E-O of the Calhoun County R-E-C in Rockwell City, says extending Highway 20 will play a significant role in economic development efforts. Carisch says growth always occurs along transportation corridors, and that’s why the expansion of Highway 20 to a four-lane all across northern Iowa is crucial to development. Carisch says when new businesses move into the area, there’s greater demand for electricity and more workers move in area homes, spreading the cost of building and maintaining the infrastructure — like power lines — making rates more affordable. The U.S. 20 Corridor Association plans to make its renewed pitch to the Iowa D-O-T Commission on October 12 at the Commission’s meeting in LeMars.
