NO IMPROVEMENTS FOR HIGHWAY 61-136
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS SAY THAT A PRIVATE BROKEN LEVEE AND
HEAVY RAINS HAVE REPEATEDLY CLOSED THIS SUMMER US HIGHWAYS
61 AND 136 NEAR ALEXANDRIA. FIVE TIMES THIS SUMMER RIVER WATER
HAS COVERED THE HIGHWAY AND FORCING MOTORIST TO DETOUR
AROUND ST.FRANCISVILLE FOR DRIVERS HEADING TO KEOKUK AND
BEYOND.
THE PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO MODOT HAS CAUSED EROSION ON THE
SHOULDERS OF THE ROAD. MOST OF THE CLOSINGS HAVE CAME BECAUSE
OF FLOODING ON THE DES MOINES RIVER WHICH HAS HAD FLOODING UP
NORTH FOR MOST OF THE SUMMER. THE LEVEE HAS SINCE BEEN
REPAIRED
MODOT OFFICIALS HAS NO PLANS TO DO ANY MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS
SUCH AS RAISING THE ROAD TO ABATE FLOODING. ACCORDING TO
MODOT TO RAISE THE ROAD YOU WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH DRAINAGE
DISTRICTS AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND WHAT RAISING THE
ROAD WOULD AFFECT DRAINAGE IN THE AREA. PLUS IT WOULD ALSO
HAVE TO BE PRIORTIZED AS A TRANSPORTATION NEED.
