Newton Receives Iowa DOT Grant for 1st Avenue Traffic Signal Upgrade

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The City of Newton, Iowa has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation's Traffic Safety Improvement Program to replace the traffic signal equipment at the intersection of 1st Avenue West and West 8th Street. The current signals are nearing the end of their useful life and do not meet ADA accessibility requirements.

Why it matters

Upgrading this key intersection's traffic signals is important for improving safety and accessibility for all road users in Newton. The grant funding allows the city to make these necessary infrastructure improvements without having to allocate additional local taxpayer dollars.

The details

The Iowa DOT grant will cover 100% of the equipment costs to replace the outdated traffic signal controller at the 1st Avenue West and West 8th Street intersection. The city has selected Bolton & Menk Engineering to design the new signals, which will include audible and countdown features to meet ADA standards. City staff will handle the construction administration and bidding process for the project.

• The current traffic signals are nearing the end of their useful life.
• The Iowa DOT awarded the $100,000 grant to the City of Newton in April 2026.

What’s next

After the engineering plans are finalized, the City of Newton will put the project out for public bid to select a contractor to install the new traffic signals.