 They also asked that the plans to widen US 61 from West to Sunnyside Avenues in western Burlington, which included the connection between the 534 freeway and US 34, be scrapped entirely.City leaders pressed the commission to include US 61 in their plans as its need was more urgent than the completion of the 534 freeway.In February 1975, President Gerald Ford released $2 billion (equivalent to $ in dollars) of impounded highway funds, of which, at least $40 million (equivalent to $ in dollars) was allocated for Iowa projects.