032919 404
Transportation officials say it will take months to repair major roads in western Iowa damaged by spring flooding.
State transportation official Scott Suhr says crews were on site Thursday to inspect some of the worst damages on parts of Interstate's 29 and 680, Highway 34 and state highway 2.
Suhr says around 25 miles of interstate in southwest Iowa and roughly 14 miles of roads north of Council Bluffs remain closed Thursday afternoon due to washed away shoulders, eroded pavement and scattered waste.
Suhr noted his chief concern is state Highway 2 since portions are still submerged.
Suhr added getting construction equipment into the area will be challenging because the ground is drenched.
Governor Kim Reynolds is putting off appointing permanent leaders to the Departments of Natural Resources and Corrections, leaving in place acting directors. The positions require Senate confirmation. Now that a key deadline has passed, legislative staff says lawmakers won’t be able to confirm nominees until next session.
Reynolds’ spokesman Pat Garrett says she’s taking her time making the decisions.
0329garrett: 08
“Well again, I think that it’s about getting the right people, the right people for the right position. And so I think she’s taking a lot of time to make sure she does that properly. It’s not something you want to rush into.”
The D-O-C has had an interim director for about three months. The acting director of the D-N-R has been in place for nearly eleven months.
