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State rep. releases letter, petition to IDOT director

An estimated 120 concerned residents attended a forum at the Floyd Community Center last week to sign petitions and push for safety action. File photo
An estimated 120 concerned residents attended a forum at the Floyd Community Center last week to sign petitions and push for safety action. File photo

By Kate Hayden | khayden@charlescitypress.com

The Iowa Department of Transportation director will soon receive petitions and supporting letters gathered and sent by State Rep. Todd Prichard, representing nearly 3,000 signatures asking the state to take action at the Highways 218 and 18 intersection in Floyd.

In his cover letter to Director Paul Trombino III, Prichard noted the presence of an active ethanol plant south of the intersection.

“The associated traffic with the plant and regular heavy truck traffic create a dangerous situation for trucks slowing to turn or attempting to cross over the fast moving east and west bound lanes of traffic,” Prichard wrote. “Additionally, there is an existing fuel and truck stop at the interchange with a second Loves brand truck stop under construction…I fear that the already high number of accidents and near misses at the intersection will only increase with the completion of Loves truck stop.”

Approximately 120 county citizens attended an open forum meeting with Prichard, Rep. Josh Byrnes and Sen. Mary Jo Wilhelm on July 26 to discuss long-term and short-term solutions to the danger.

During the forum, Prichard told the crowd he had asked the Charles City Community School District to submit a supporting letter asking for action, and encouraged other county and city of Floyd organizations to submit their own supporting letter.

“Numerous citizens testified to witnessing horrific accidents at this intersection. All who spoke at the forum agreed that the intersection is in need of improvement from a design stand point,” Prichard wrote. “Further, it seems unfair to burden this small community with such a notoriously dangerous intersection.”

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