FT. MADISON (AP) -- The commute between two southeast Iowa cities is a little easier today.
The Iowa Department of Transportation announced that the Highway 61 by-pass around Ft. Madison is now open to traffic.
The opening of the by-pass means that there is now a complete four-lane highway between Keokuk and Burlington.
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Highway 61 now by-passes Ft. Madison on the north and west sides of town. Previously highway 61 ran straight through downtown Ft. Madison, creating traffic delays and a causing accidents on the highly traveled eastern Iowa artery.
The by-pass will also allow easy transportation of the massive wind turbine blades that are manufactured in the area.
IDOT says bulk of the funding for the project came from 358-million dollars in federal stimulus money
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