Supporters of the Road of Honor in Keokuk continue raising money for the project.
The city last year held a ceremony during which it gave South 18th Street the honorary designation of the Road of Honor. Red, white, and blue signs note the designation.
The street takes visitors to Keokuk National Cemetery, which is the only national cemetery in Iowa and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
South 18th Street has been patched up through the years but has never received a proper resurfacing, resulting in a road that’s in need of an upgrade.
Mayor Kathie Mahoney would like to see that work begin soon.
“We’re hoping that maybe in March or April of next year we can put the first shovel in the ground, but we’ll see. Things take time. That’s the problem. I’m not very patient,” Mahoney said with a laugh.
She said the Road of Honor committee has sent letters to all American Legions in Iowa, asking for donations of one-dollar per veteran.
Mahoney said the city is also seeking grants, and it should soon receive $960,000 from the federal government.
The estimated cost of the project is more than $3 million.
The plan is to redo the street, the structure underneath, the sidewalks, make it ADA compliant, and do sewer separation work.
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