The public information meeting set for July 20, from 5-7 p.m. in the Kalona Community Center, is the “first step” to developing Highway 1 into a Super Two-Lane road.

The session will discuss proposed improvement of the highway between Iowa 92 near Washington and the U.S. 218 interchange near Iowa City.

“It is important to get input in now, at the start of the project,” said Lee Benfield, planning engineer with the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The meeting is not a formal one, although details of the improvements will be presented.

“We will develop a schedule for the process,” said Benfield, adding that construction would not begin for the next six to seven years.

One of the items noted is a possible by-pass near the intersection of Highways 1 and 22. The provisions is to accommodate possible findings from “cultural resource data,” said Benfield, explaining that it relates to environmental impact.

Kalona previously encountered a similar provision a few years ago when a housing development had to determine if it would cause any problems for either the prairie orchid or the Indiana bat.

In the meantime traffic surveys will continue “it is an on-going process,” said Benfield.

“If you have concerns or input, this would be the meeting to attend,” said Benfield. “It is the first step.”