A year ago, the DOT held a meeting in Baxter and laid out all the possibilities for changing the US 65/IA 330/IA 117 intersection. Many of the alternatives were at-grade intersections.
The meeting notice for next Tuesday uses the word “interchange,” which implies to me that this is how they have decided to proceed.
The options laid out at the meeting may differ from the ones below. The options given in 2012 were as follows:
- Interchange at the current intersection, F17 bridge over 330. The simplest option, but the three homesteads at the intersection would have to be removed, and there may be some tricky environmental issues at the creek just to the south.
- Interchange at F17, bridge over the expressway at the current 117 junction. In this case, northbound 65 would go up the expressway to that interchange, then west; IA 117 would go south of the current 65/F17 junction and over the expressway.
- Interchange south of the current 117 junction, with 65 going east from there on 79th Avenue West to a roundabout with IA 117, then north, with a bridge over the current intersection.
- “Split the difference” with an interchange between the 117 and F17 junctions, closing both intersections, while 65, 117, and F17 take new routes in the area. To the south/east, 117 would parallel the expressway for a distance and then have a roundabout just east of the interchange. This one has the most effects on the surrounding land.
When the new plans are online, I’ll link them.