Congress' lack of action on federal roads funds could hurt Winneshiek County

The federal Highway Trust Fund will run out of money in August if Congress doesn't act in July to renew funding.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx has warned that the Highway Trust Fund will start bouncing checks in August.

Winneshiek County Engineer Lee Bjerke says he is worried about the prospect.  The county already is being hit hard by stagnant state road funds and rising construction costs.

Bjerke says the Iowa DOT has told county officials it has a contingency fund in place and will help counties get necessary funding if the federal funds are interrupted.  Still, Bjerke is hoping for an agreement that will avoid that situation.

He says one silver lining is that the federal TIGR grant that will pay for Freeport Trail construction this summer is funded from a different source of federal money--and would NOT be affected.