Lots of questions asked at Locust Road public meeting

A crowd of around 90 people jammed into Decorah City Hall on Monday evening to hear about plans for next year's Locust Road project.

The group used the meeting to ask questions about the projects, questions which touched on truck traffic, bike lanes, street lights, culverts, street curves and more.

A recurring question involved what to do with truck traffic which uses the road.  Detours will use Meadowlark Road or Pine Crest and Ridge Road.  But one resident inquired about setting weight limits for trucks in the future.  Other questions involved whether trucks and other traffic would use Highland Drive as a detour during the project, instead of Ridge Road; whether additional street lighting is needed along Locust Road; whether the new street design could help eliminate cars and trucks skidding on the curves during winter; and whether a stop light should be installed at Highland Drive.

The presentation disclosed that the roadbed of Locust Road would be moved--but only by 2.5 feet; that much of the trees and other vegetation along the road would need to be removed; and that while plans show six culverts running underneath Locust Road, only one such culvert has been found so far.

Monday's public meeting was informational only, so no decisions were made.

The city's engineering consultants for the project, McClure Engineering, said the total price of the road project is estimated at $5.25 million, assuming the project goes all the way north to Highland Drive.