I don’t know if the Iowa DOT is attempting to impose or merely strongly suggesting that small cities get their main thoroughfares changed from four lanes (two in each direction) to three (one in each direction with a center turn lane), but it’s popping up an awful lot.
And Grundy Center is having none of it.
When the Grundy Register wrote about a city council meeting where the “road diet” was discussed, residents’ response on Facebook was strongly against, the Register reported. I note such a a change would affect the county’s only two stoplights.
It’s widespread enough that state Rep. Sandy Salmon of Janesville wants to ban the DOT from pushing cities to take this course of action. (Yes, that is my picture. No, it’s not in a place that would be affected by a road diet.)
Ten months ago, the Knoxville City Council approved changing IA 14 from four lanes to three, over the objections of many residents.