Newton authorizes design work for sidewalk at Iowa Speedway Drive

Following through on its 2024-2026 goals, the Newton City Council last week approved the professional services agreement with Bolton & Menk Engineering to survey and design a sidewalk along Iowa Speedway Drive, giving pedestrians safer access to businesses like Walmart and ALDI on the east side of town.

According to city documents, the engineering firm has a clear scope of the work and quoted a reasonable fee of $27,600 to be paid from the capital fund and be reimbursed with Eastmart TIF funds. Bolton & Menk will issue a topographic survey and submit a preliminary design and final design of the project.

When the final design is completed, the project will be placed out to bid for this construction season. Council member Stacy Simbo said he is glad the city has the funding to complete one of its goals and fix an issue the city has been informed of for some time. It also enhances traffic to key supermarkets.

Additional 2024-2026 city council goals include: the reconstruction of South 12th Avenue West, a police/fire joint training and storage facility, Phase 3 clubhouse improvements, a new skate park at Aurora Park, the airport southeast apron expansion and asphalt mill and overlay of various streets in Newton.