CONTACT:
Mayor Roy D. Buol
563-564-5455, rdbuol@cityofdubuque.org    

June 12, 2018 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Iowa DOT Commission Funds 4-Lane Paving of US52/Southwest Arterial Project

DUBUQUE, Iowa – A major Dubuque transportation project will be completed sooner than planned following the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Commission’s adoption of a five-year budget at a meeting in Des Moines this morning.
 
The IDOT’s newly adopted five-year budget includes funding to pave all four lanes of the US52/Southwest Arterial, a 6-mile roadway that will connect US20 at Seippel Rd. to US 61/151 in 2019. Before today’s commission action, the project’s budget included funding for all project components and grading for the final four-lane design but only funded paving of an initial two-lane version. 
 
“We are extremely grateful to the Iowa DOT commissioners and DOT staff for their decision to fund the four-lane paving project next year,” said Dubuque Mayor Roy D. Buol.  “This is tremendous news for the Dubuque region and all who will benefit from the expedited completion of the project.  The commission’s decision and this project itself continue to demonstrate innovative funding, sound design, fiscal stewardship, and the power of partnerships.
 
City of Dubuque officials asked IDOT officials last summer to consider including an additional $16 million as part of the department's fiscal year 2019 budget to allow for paving all four lanes in 2019.  The request followed project savings of $13 million due to contracts coming in under budget, and other anticipated cost savings that would be realized by paving all four lanes at once.
 
All four lanes are expected to be paved and the roadway opened in late 2019.

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