Three-week road closure anticipated on Old Highway 34

MT. PLEASANT — Construction crews are still hard at work in Henry County, and that means commuters will still encounter some delays and rerouting.

Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 9, Old Highway 34 will be closed between Henry-Jefferson Avenue east to Benton Avenue for a box culvert extension project.

This is anticipated to take three weeks.

Another project for this area is set to be let by spring of 2023.

Old Highway 34 west of Benton Avenue tied to Jefferson County comes in with an estimated cost of $435,000 and will use FM funds.

According to the Iowa DOT, FM funds are Farm-to-Market funds for counties. They are made up of 8% Roads Use Tax Funds and are to be used for drainage, grading, surfacing, resurfacing, construction of bridges or culverts, and other projects which establish, constrict, reconstruct or improve the FM System.

Another project projected to be let by spring of 2023 is replacing the Iowa Avenue Bridge for an estimated $610,000 using Bridge Replacement funds.

Next spring, Henry County Roads Department plans to begin work on two projects already under contract.

According to County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss, work on Ash Avenue south of Hillsboro will begin and at some point that same spring, work with Norris Asphalt will start on paving road shoulders.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com