Highway 9 through Decorah to be reconstructed in 2026

By Zach Jensen,

A tractor-trailer rig passes under the Pleasant Avenue overpass on Iowa Highway 9 in Decorah. Multiple resurfacing projects have taken place along that stretch of highway since its installation in 1968, and the past work has ultimately elevated the highway to the point that the overpass is too low for certain semis. As a result, some semis have been rerouted through Decorah city streets. (Photo by Zach Jensen)

Iowa State Highway 9, which passes through southern Decorah, will be getting a major facelift in 2026. 

The Iowa Department of Transportation recently announced road crews will be reconstructing Highway 9 from its intersection with Iowa Highway 52 to just past the Pleasant Avenue overpass — a little more than a mile to the east. The project is estimated to run from spring until fall of 2026. 

“We are going to lower the highway in that area to improve the clearance under the bridge,” said IDOT District 2 Field Services Coordinator Pete Hjelmstad. “It was built to design standards at the time, which have now changed to allow for more clearance. Resurfacing of the highway did reduce the clearance over the years.”

Complete article can be found in the September 26 Decorah Leader.

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Larry Andreassen
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4 months ago

How about at least resurfacing hi way 9 on the hill to the EAST! It is “Horrible” on lanes going west down the hill.