Getting to Des Moines should be easier by the end of this year

County Highway A-46 is a popular route for Winneshiek County residents to take to get to Highway 18 and Interstate 35, two divided highways that lead to the Des Moines area.  By the end of the year the "Ridgeway Shortcut" could become even more popular among Winneshiek County residents heading to the state's capitol.

Howard County is paying to repave the highway from the Winneshiek County border all the way to U.S. Highway 63.  The work will be done by Croell, Inc. and will consist of a 6-inch overlay on the existing roadway.

Howard County will pay $3,455,168.96 for the road construction project, which will start this spring and finish by fall.