Henry County engineer provides updates on county roads projects and agreements

HENRY COUNTY — Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss presented several infrastructure updates to the Henry County Board of Supervisors during the Feb. 6 Department Head meeting, including a new 28E agreement with the city of Mt. Pleasant for a planned road project.

The board approved Resolution 5-2025-20, endorsing Mt. Pleasant’s planned construction project which overlaps with county territory.

  Buy Photo

“The city of Mt. Pleasant plans a construction project for West Washington Street west to the city limits, including approximately a quarter mile west on 235th Street,” Hotchkiss stated. “Sections of this road are within Henry County jurisdiction.”

The agreement, which will be executed before project letting, outlines the county’s financial responsibility to reimburse Mt. Pleasant for work within its jurisdiction. The project aims to enhance traffic flow by expanding the number of lanes in certain sections and creating smoother transitions for vehicles entering Mt. Pleasant from the west.

“They're looking at four lanes, essentially from Goodyear Road back into town toward Mt. Pleasant,” Hotchkiss explained. “There is about a quarter-mile section outside or to the west of Goodyear that they're looking at doing some transition lanes, so going from two lanes to three lanes, and then they're essentially going at the three lanes, continuing on into Mount Pleasant.”

The board also approved Motion 6-2025-20, allowing the county to enter Agreement 2026-011 with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) for safety improvements on Franklin Avenue (W55). The project extends from the north bridge approach of the Skunk River Bridge to 150 feet north of the Old Highway 34 intersection.

“This is starting at Oakland Mill Bridge, going north. We're going to take it on past the railroad bridge there that would actually then connect into Old 34,” Hotchkiss said. “We're looking at safety improvements there. We're going to be adding two-foot paved shoulders with our overlay and some reconstruction. There will be rumble strips for shoulder and centerline.”

Funded in part by a $500,000 DOT grant, the project includes two-foot paved shoulders, rumble strips along both the shoulder and centerline and roadway overlay and reconstruction.

Hotchkiss noted that additional funding may be pursued through a Community Betterment grant. If further funding is not secured, the county will rely on farm-to-market funds to cover the remaining costs. The reconstruction portion of the project may require temporary road closures, but decisions will be finalized based on budget constraints.

Hotchkiss reported that KCTC continues its fiber installation project in Henry County. The board approved two new permits for fiber work. One was approved for 200th Street and Hickory Avenue, extending east off Franklin Avenue. The other was approved for Agency Road near Salem, connecting to Benton.

“They are sending in smaller permits that we're reviewing at a time,” Hotchkiss said. “We've had pretty good luck with them as a utility company so far with what they've done for us last year.”

The county engineer also updated the board on necessary overhead door replacements at the county’s main shop. The existing doors have worn tracks and require increasing maintenance. Hotchkiss obtained two quotes for the project, which is expected to cost approximately $40,000 for six new doors.

“I know we talked about maybe some long-term plans of looking at doing things to our building. I don't think at this point it is going to happen in the next three to five years, at least, I haven’t heard anything that way,” Hotchkiss said. “I feel like we need to replace those doors.”

Due to budget considerations, the county may split the cost over two fiscal years, replacing half the doors in June and the other half in July. However, if funds allow, all doors could be replaced in June.

Residents can expect further updates as these projects move forward, with construction timelines and detour plans to be announced as necessary.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com