Out in Ringgold County, there’s no federal highway. County roads like P33 are the highway system: it’s how farmers get crops to market, how kids get to school, how deliveries reach Main Street in Diagonal, and how first responders reach families in an emergency. Every day, roughly 740 vehicles travel this 6.7-mile stretch between Highway 2 and Diagonal. For nearly 15% of the county’s residents, it’s part of everyday life. After decades of heavy use, the road they all count on is wearing out.
What’s new: We secured $2 million in federal funding to help Ringgold County rebuild the entire 6.7-mile P33 corridor from Highway 2 into Diagonal. The project will resurface the roadway, add paved shoulders, and install edge rumble strips to improve safety for everyone who travels it.
This week, I announced this investment in Diagonal alongside Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. Here’s what it means for southern Iowa: ⬇️
Why it matters: I grew up working on my family’s farm, so I know what a failing road costs a rural community. Out here, there isn’t another route just down the road. When a road like P33 gives out, the whole community waits. And simple safety improvements can make a difference between a close call and a serious crash when a driver drifts off the roadway.
The big picture: This project started with local leadership. Ringgold County identified the need, designed improvements, and committed $1.8 million of its own Farm-to-Market funding — nearly half the total project cost. Our job was to help bring federal dollars back to Iowa so local taxpayers didn’t have to shoulder the burden alone. The Federal Highway Administrator could be anywhere in America. Instead, he came to Ringgold County because local leaders stepped up with a plan, and together we delivered the partnership needed to get his project across the finish line.
Bottom Line: Strong rural roads keep Iowa moving. They connect our farms to markets, our families to opportunity, and our communities to one another. I’ll keep fighting to bring federal investments back to Iowa so communities like Ringgold County have the infrastructure they need to grow, stay safe, and build a stronger future for the next generation.