Watch for construction in Salem

SALEM — Drivers in the Salem area should expect lane closures and construction over the next two weeks as Henry County crews begin work on Jackson Street/Salem Road (J-20), near the school on the east side of town.

“We’re going to be working on J-20 around the school, for some intakes to some existing drainage that we’re working on,” Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss told the Board of Supervisors. “Then we’re going to also be working on an ADA compliance sidewalk crossing there at the school that we’ll be doing in-house. So that will be going on. We anticipate probably two weeks of work, and that’s on and off.”

The work is scheduled for mid- to late July and will involve periodic lane closures. Drivers are encouraged to slow down and use caution in the area while crews are present.

Separately, Hotchkiss said the county is continuing to work on signage updates in Salem. The topic was discussed at the Salem City Council meeting held Tuesday, July 1.

“There we discussed our project with the new signing that we’re gonna be putting up around the school on the east end of town, as well as talking about speed limits coming in and out of Salem,” Hotchkiss said. “With some of our road improvements, there was a need to look at how our signs are, to bring those into the standard. We had, I think, a pretty good meeting.”

Hotchkiss emphasized that no major speed limit changes are being proposed.

“Most of it’s just updating the distances and continuity as you go through town. So it’s clear what the speed is on the farm-to-market routes.”

He plans to present a resolution with the proposed signage and speed limit clarifications to the Henry County Board of Supervisors on July 24.

Supervisor Steve Detrick asked for clarification on the county’s authority in small towns.

“Any farm-to-market route — that’s typically your paved roads that come into a city that’s under 500 population — the county has jurisdiction as far as signage goes,” Hotchkiss responded. “If they’re going to want to install a stop sign, that is actually your decision to approve any speed limiting like that. We are responsible for the road itself. We’re not responsible for outside the road.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com