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County engineer: Iowa DOT plans J‑turn at Highway 63 and Cedar Wapsi Road to reduce crash severity
Summary
County engineer Kathy Nicholas told the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors the Iowa DOT is proposing a reduced‑conflict J‑turn at Highway 63 and Cedar Wapsi Road, budgeted for FY2028 with an estimated cost of about $2.9 million; supervisors expressed concern about truck and farm traffic impacts.
Kathy Nicholas, Black Hawk County engineer, told the board on July 21 that the Iowa Department of Transportation is planning a reduced‑conflict J‑turn at the intersection of Highway 63 and Cedar Wapsi Road and has budgeted the project for fiscal year 2028.
"They are designing this as we understand it in 7 or 8 locations around Iowa right now," Nicholas said, adding DOT analysis shows these intersections have "significant reductions in accidents" and that the J‑turn would reduce the severity of crashes, similar to a roundabout.
Nicholas said the DOT estimated a J‑turn could be delivered for about $2.9 million, while an interchange would be roughly $30 million — a difference DOT officials told the county is prohibitive. The DOT plans additional lighting and improvements and anticipates further public outreach, likely a second open house in 2027 once designs are more developed.
Several supervisors said they appreciated the DOT briefing but raised operational concerns. "The need is for an overpass," Supervisor Rich said, noting farm and truck traffic and saying he worried required U‑turns could push traffic to other intersections and create new safety problems. Chair (called to order at the meeting) and other supervisors said the DOT's timeline and cost considerations make the J‑turn a faster way to reduce severe crashes in the short term.
Nicholas emphasized the design could change depending on how the J‑turn performs in practice and said county staff will continue coordination with DOT and local jurisdictions, and the county will post DOT materials on its website when available.
The board did not take formal action on the DOT proposal; Nicholas and staff will monitor DOT design progress and public outreach.
