Casey’s near I-80 exit 168 now open

The new Casey’s gas station, truck stop and convenience store along Iowa Speedway Drive in Newton is “real close” to completion.

Nick Halfhill, senior manager of site development at Casey’s General Stores, told the Newton City Council on March 21 that construction of the facility is almost finished. The gas station will be the fourth Casey’s to operate in Newton, and this one in particular is located just off exit 168 of Interstate 80.

“We’re excited to open very soon,” Halfhill said. “…Hopefully in a couple weeks you’ll see some lights on out there.”

Newton Mayor Mike Hansen and city council members were pleased with the update. Council member Craig Trotter said he drives by the construction site every day to see the progress. Council member Evelyn George said the tall Casey’s sign “cannot be missed” by motorists traveling the interstate.

“We’re very, very delighted for your investment,” Hansen said during a public hearing to review the final plat for the new gas station and convenience store. “Casey’s has always been a good partner in our community and in Iowa and in the region, for that matter. We are so delighted for that investment in the corner.”

Council members approved the final plat for the six-lot commercial subdivision in southeast Newton, where the new Casey’s is located. City staff determined each lot meets the minimum zoning requirements and the site itself drains southward toward a regional detention area towards the I-80 right-of-way.

City documents say the detention area was established to accommodate the development of two additional lots, paving the way for possible future expansion.

The preliminary plat for the Casey’s project was reviewed and approved by the planning and zoning commission and the city council in 2020. As a part of that process, public improvements such as streets and utilities must be built. The final plat confirms those public improvements were built according to plan.

In addition to water main and sanitary and storm sewers construction, the city required a 36-foot back-to-back PCC roadway be made on the property. Both the city and Casey’s agreed the public improvements were completed according to construction plans and city specifications.

During the same council meeting, elected officials accepted the completion of those public improvements for the Casey’s addition.

Casey’s also requested a waiver for the sidewalk requirement for a portion of the subdivision, specifically along the interstate and the frontages of Iowa Speedway Drive and South 15th Avenue East. The city supported the waiver, noting the lot for Casey’s is similar to the Love’s Travel Stop, which doesn’t have sidewalks.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com