Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County staff outline $500,000 traffic‑safety grant proposal for deadly curves; board backs application
Summary
Madison County engineers described a State of Iowa roadway safety grant (maximum $500,000 per award) to fund signage, paved shoulders with rumble strips and improved pavement markings at a three‑curve stretch that recorded two fatalities in recent years; the board approved a resolution supporting the traffic safety improvement application.
Assistant to the county engineer Cole presented a traffic safety grant application the county plans to submit to the State of Iowa. Cole said the program funds roadway safety improvements, traffic control devices and related studies with a per‑award maximum of $500,000.
Cole described the project area as a series of three curves west of a local reference given in the transcript; he said the site has had two fatalities in the past two years and therefore qualifies for the grant. Proposed countermeasures include oversized warning signage, a 45 mph advisory sign, chevron signs on the major curves, 4‑foot paved shoulders with rumble strips, and wider (6‑inch) pavement markings to increase visibility.
Cole estimated the local project scope at about $410,000 to remain under the $500,000 cap. He outlined the timeline: finalize the application around Aug. 20, expect state approval in January, project letting in October 2025, and construction to begin no later than August 2026.
During board discussion members asked about competitiveness and benefit‑to‑cost qualifications; Cole said Madison County's crash history and benefit‑cost ratio make it a competitive candidate. The board later approved a resolution supporting the traffic safety improvement program by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will submit the application before the stated deadline and return with any required local commitments or match requirements if the award is made.
