Historical survey work has put the Red Rock Prairie Trail construction a full year behind schedule. Jasper County Economic Development Corporation Director and former Hometown Pride Coach Jeff Davidson said he is hopeful the project can move forward this spring.

The Iowa Department of Transportation, which manages the grants currently awarded to the project, required the additional level of historical and cultural studies to be completed to ensure the project is not doing anything to adversely affect the original rail quarter. Unfortunately, the requirement derailed the progress of the project a calendar year.

The state ended up requiring additional historical/cultural survey work before we finalized the RRPT construction design documents because it was determined the former rail line that will become the Red Rock Prairie Trail was one of the first three rail lines across central Iowa,” Davidson said. “That report took several months to complete. It was forwarded to the State Historic Preservation Office where it was approved and is now awaiting final federal approval under the NEPA statute.”

Once federal approval is given, Davidson said construction plans will be shored up and the project will get on the IDOT’s letting schedule. It is still hoped ground will break during the summer or fall construction season, but nothing is certain.

“So much depends on weather and how contractors are doing getting their other jobs done,” Davidson said.