Bill advances to prioritize Hwy. 30 expansion in 5-year plan

CHRIS BALDUS, Clinton Herald, Iowa
·1 min read

Feb. 28—DES MOINES — Hwy. 30 is a step closer to becoming a four-lane cross-state thoroughfare.

Rep. Tom Determann, R-Clinton, issued a statement on Wednesday after legislation made it through committee to require the Iowa Transportation Commission to prioritize the improvement of Hwy. 30 in its five-year plan of projects.

"This would essentially turn Highway 30 into a four-lane highway," Dettermann said.

The legislation does not include a timeline for the project.

Determann chaired a three-member subcommittee on the bill which passed it unanimously.

"It was brought before the Transportation Committee and was passed almost unanimously with 20 ayes and 1 no," he said. "This bill will now be brought to the House Floor and be voted on by all the Representatives within the coming weeks."

House File 589 specifically says the commission "shall include in its long-range program ... plans to expand all portions of the highway consisting of two-lane roadways to four-lane divided roadways until the entire length of the highway is made up of four-lane divided roadways."

Grow Clinton County lobbyists have declared support for the bill.

Sen. Chris Cournoyer, R-Le Claire, introduced companion legislation last year that advanced only as far as subcommittee approval.