New Rest Stops between Ames and Ankeny

[clonefreek]

I drive by this construction everyday on my way to and from work, I go by around 7:45am and at about 4:45pm and I never seen more then 1 vehicle there but I rarely even see that. These things were supposed to be complete back in October and November. Here we are in February and they are still not complete, its been almost 2 years since they started the construction process for those. I just love thinking about the fact that those are my tax dollars at use. Wasting away in a project that clearly has gone way off its original path. I thought about writing a strong worded letter lol Does this bother anyone else or is it just me?

 

[Fitzy]

I'd also be interested in hearing the story behind this. Been wondering myself.

 

[3TrueFans]

They're pacing themselves, don't want to burn out.

 

[alarson]

These are things i think of whenever i hear about gas taxes being raised.

We say we have all this old infrastructure failing, and then we go and build these which should be way, way, way down the priority list given the short distance between the north side of ankeny and highway 30.

 

[Tre4ISU]

What does it matter? No one will be using them anyway.

 

[clonefreek]

Its just annoying to see, you have highways and bridges falling apart but we are worried about people not being able to take a **** or buy a candy bar in the 20 miles between Ames and Ankeny

 

[ajk4st8]

Im gonna have to stop and take a **** there every night on my way home to start getting my tax moneys worth.

 

[3TrueFans]

I mean I could go 20 minutes without a candy bar, but given the choice I'd rather not, I support this new rest stop.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

One bad project does not mean an entire budget is bad. Maybe federal law requires rest stops within so many miles? Do any of you know that?

 

[Jordanj6502]

One bad project does not mean an entire budget is bad. Maybe federal law requires rest stops within so many miles? Do any of you know that?

I believe that was the case here. There was federal grant money or road funding, and in order to get it, there had to be a project like this one. I don't know the details, I just remember it from an interview question with someone talking about the gas tax.

 

[mj4cy]

I'm so glad they decided to put them there. The countless amenities in Ames and Ankeny being less than 20 miles apart was way to taxing to make that drive...

 

[ianoconnor]

I believe that was the case here. There was federal grant money or road funding, and in order to get it, there had to be a project like this one. I don't know the details, I just remember it from an interview question with someone talking about the gas tax.

And that's why we're $59 trillion in debt.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

That's another problem. Federal funding shouldn't have a bunch of strings attached to it, especially for stuff like this.

I would imagine no one at the Iowa DOT thought this was a necessity, but they needed the other funds so badly that we're stuck with this project. I'm sure they could have gotten a lot of other things taken care of for the money they're using here.

 

[JP4CY]

One bad project does not mean an entire budget is bad. Maybe federal law requires rest stops within so many miles? Do any of you know that?

That I can agree on, no problem at all, but why do they have to be so ******* fancy? Do we need $15,000 steel picnic table gazebos, granite walls, etc?
There is no reason they have to be that nice.

 

[isufbcurt]

I'm so glad they decided to put them there. The countless amenities in Ames and Ankeny being less than 20 miles apart was way to taxing to make that drive...

I would rather stop at a rest stop to use the restroom when I am traveling than go into a town find a gas station and have the gas station worker glare at me because I used the restroom without buying anything.

 

[JP4CY]

I would rather stop at a rest stop to use the restroom when I am traveling than go into a town find a gas station and have the gas station worker glare at me because I used the restroom without buying anything.

That's because you have a reputation for upper decking the toilet Curt.

 

[Incyte]

At least the rest stops have a function unlike the highway "art" at the I35/hwy 30 interchange.

 

[bringmagicback]

One bad project does not mean an entire budget is bad. Maybe federal law requires rest stops within so many miles? Do any of you know that?

BUT DO ANY OF YOU KNOW THAT!!!!!!????????

 

[johnstoncy]

It's a funny thing, the older you get the more you appreciate more places to ****. Tax dollars have been spent on worse things. :smile:

 

[1100011CS]

At least the rest stops have a function unlike the highway "art" at the I35/hwy 30 interchange.

I've seen a lot worse 'art' along highways and in other public places.