It looks like the weather is finally changing from winter to construction season in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Transportation is poised to tackle construction work in every corner of the state. Depending on the remaining outcomes of bid lettings through June, the Iowa DOT will have let out to bid approximately $600 million in Primary Highway System construction work during the 2013 calendar year. Iowa’s counties and cities will also be setting up work zones in many areas in an effort to improve Iowa’s transportation system.
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This is a list of the most visible projects, according to the Iowa DOT’s Office of Construction and Materials.
Central Iowa
Roadway: Interstate 35
County: Polk
In West Des Moines, the capacity improvement of I-35 will continue this year with the construction of the new southbound lanes between the I-35/I-80/I-235 interchange and Raccoon River bridge. Traffic will be maintained in two lanes in each direction using the existing northbound lanes and median sections constructed last year. Access to Mill Civic Parkway will be maintained and single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours. The I-35 interchange at Grand Avenue will be affected by the closures of the southbound exit and entrance ramps to allow for interchange reconstruction.
Roadway: Interstate 80
County: Polk
Work continues on I-80 near Altoona from the U.S. 65 bypass to east of the I-80/U.S. 65 interchange. The project includes reconstructing the Altoona interchange, capacity improvements to westbound I-80 and reconstruction of the 34th Avenue Northwest bridge over I-80. Two lanes of traffic on I-80 will be maintained in each direction during peak hours. Single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours. During the construction season, 34th Avenue Northwest and the northbound U.S. 65 ramp to I-80 will be closed. Detours will be in place.
Roadway: Interstate 35/80
County: Polk
I-35/I-80 will be resurfaced from the west junction of I-235 north to Iowa 141. The asphalt concrete resurfacing will be completed at night to allow normal traffic patterns during the daytime.
Roadway: Interstate 235
County: Polk
This project includes construction of a westbound I-235 auxiliary lane between the 73rd Street interchange and 63rd Street interchange in Windsor Heights. Westbound traffic will not be affected during construction of the project.
Roadway: U.S. 65
County: Polk
This project includes construction of two pairs of overflow bridges on U.S. 65 near the Des Moines River. The northbound bridges will be constructed in 2013 and southbound bridges in 2014. Traffic will be restricted to a two-lane, two-way configuration in the southbound lanes during the 2013 construction season.
Roadway: U.S. 20
County: Hamilton
Eastbound U.S. 20 from Iowa 17 to U.S. 69 will be reconstructed. Traffic will be operating in a two-lane, two-way traffic configuration in the westbound lanes.
Roadway: U.S. 65
County: Warren
The southbound U.S. 65 bridge over the North River will be reconstructed. Traffic will be operating in a two-lane, two-way traffic configuration in the northbound lanes.
Roadway: U.S. 30
County: Story
Eastbound U.S. 30 will be reconstructed with a concrete inlay from just east of I-35 near Ames to the west side of Nevada. Traffic will be operating in a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 for the construction season. Access to U.S. 30 from the south will not be allowed within the project limits during construction, except at the access to Story County Road R-70 upon completion of the project’s first phase. Access to the north will be limited to right-in, right-out operations at the intersections within the project limits.
Roadway: Interstate 80
County: Dallas
The westbound shoulders on I-80 from the Polk County line west 20 miles will be reconstructed. In addition, there will be high-tension cable guardrail placed in the median and updated guardrail placed at several locations along the route. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction during peak hours. Single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours.
Roadway: U.S. 6 (Hickman Road)
County: Dallas and Polk
Several left-turn lanes will be lengthened at Alice’s Road, 156th Street, 142nd Street and 128th Street. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction during peak hours. Single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours.
North central/Northeast Iowa
Roadway: Interstate 380/U.S. 20
County: Black Hawk
Northbound I-380/U.S. 20 will be reconstructed from River Forest Road in Evansdale to the east U.S. 20 interchange. Initially, the inside lane for both north- and southbound traffic will be closed to construct median crossovers. Once the crossovers are constructed, traffic will be in a two-lane, two-way configuration in the southbound lanes. Due to anticipated traffic congestion and delays, motorists are being urged to find an alternate route. Emergency detours have been established. Visit the project website for complete details at http://www.iowadot.gov/i380.
Roadway: U.S. 63
County: Black Hawk
U.S. 63 will be reconstructed from Newell/Conger Street to Donald Street at the north edge of Waterloo. During April and early May, U.S. 63 will be detoured. The detour route will be from the junction of U.S. 63 and U.S. 218 northwest to Airport Boulevard, north on Airport Boulevard to West Airline Highway, and then east on West Airline Highway to U.S. 63. From early May to October, traffic from Newell Street to Donald Street will be in a two-lane, two-way configuration.
Roadway: U.S. 63
County: Black Hawk
U.S. 63 will be reconstructed from just south of Hudson north to U.S. 20. U.S. 63 traffic will be detoured. The project will be constructed in stages. When the north section of the project is under construction, the detour route will begin at the intersection of U.S. 63 and Iowa 58 at the south edge of Hudson, north on Iowa 58 to U.S. 20, then east on U.S. 20 to U.S. 63. When the south section is being constructed, the detour route will begin at the intersection of U.S. 63 and Black Hawk County Road D-46, east on Black Hawk County Road D-46 to Iowa 21, north on Iowa 21 to Black Hawk County Road D-35, and then west on Black Hawk County Road D-35 to U.S. 63 in Hudson.
Roadway: I-35
County: Franklin
Both the north- and southbound lanes of I-35 will be milled and resurfaced from the Iowa 3 Interchange north 6 miles to approximately 1.4 miles north of Franklin County Road C-25. This project will also involve bridge repair work approximately 0.2 mile north of Franklin County Road C-25. Traffic will be maintained by single lane closures in each direction.
Roadway: I-35
County: Worth
Both the north- and southbound lanes of I-35 will be milled and resurfaced from 0.9 mile north of Iowa 9, north 8.3 miles to 1.8 miles south of Worth County Road 105, and from Worth County Road 105 to the Minnesota state line. Traffic will be maintained by single lane closures in each direction.
Roadway Iowa 3
County: Fayette
A concrete overlay will be placed on Iowa 3 from the west Fayette County line to just west of the junction of Iowa 3 and Iowa 150. A detour route for northbound Iowa 150 will begin at the junction of Iowa 3 and Fayette County Road V-62, north to Fayette County Road C-33, and then east on Fayette C-33 to Iowa 150. A detour route for Iowa 3 will begin at the junction of Iowa 3 and Fayette County Road V-62, south on Fayette V-62 to Iowa 281, east on Iowa 281 to Iowa 150, and then north on Iowa 150 to Iowa 3.
Northwest Iowa
Roadway: Interstate 29
County: Woodbury
I-29 in Sioux City continues to be reconstructed. Construction activities will be scattered throughout the entire I-29 corridor from the Signing Hills interchange north. Through traffic will be maintained at all times. Visit the project website for complete details at http://www.iowadot.gov/i29/index.htm.
Roadway: Iowa 86
County: Dickinson
Iowa 86 is being reconstructed in Dickinson County from Iowa 9 north to the Minnesota state line. The roadway is closed during construction. Traffic is being detoured on Iowa 9, U.S. 71 and Interstate 90 in Minnesota.
Roadway: U.S. 75
County: Plymouth
U.S. 75 will be reconstructed through Merrill. Traffic will be in a two-lane, two-way configuration through the project.
Eastern Iowa
Roadway: Interstate 80
County: Johnson
I-80 from I-380 to 1.5 miles east of the Iowa 1 interchange will have median barrier wall installed. Two lanes of traffic in each direction will be maintained through the project. There will also be interchange reconstruction at the Dubuque Street interchange. There will be detours for the interchange ramps.
Roadway: Interstate 80
County: Johnson
I-80 at the Oxford interchange (Johnson County Road W-38) will have bridge deck overlay work.Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction during peak hours. Single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours. One stage of the project will restrict lane width to 11 feet. The eastbound exit loop will be closed and a detour provided for a portion of the work.
Roadway: Interstate 380
County: Linn
I-380 from the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids north to Linn County Road E-34 will be resurfaced. There will also be bridge work as far south as U.S. 30. There will only be one lane open in each direction during the work. There will also be ramp closures. Work will be done during the night and on weekends to minimize impacts to traffic.
Roadway: U.S. 30
County: Linn
U.S. 30 from 1.6 miles west of I-380 will have deck overlay work. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction during peak hours. Single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours. One stage of the project will restrict lane width to 11 feet.
Roadway: U.S. 30
County: Clinton
U.S. 30 will be resurfaced from Wheatland to U.S. 61. Only one lane will be open to traffic in the work area. Traffic through the work area will be maintained with pilot car and flaggers.
Roadway: U.S. 30
County: Clinton
U.S. 30 (Camanche Avenue) will be reconstructed in Clinton from South 14th Street north to Fifth Street. Traffic will be maintained with a minimum of one lane in each direction.
Roadway: U.S. 52/61/151
County: Dubuque
The U.S. 52/61/151 project, from the U.S. 52 intersection to the Grandview Avenue interchange, involves replacement of the existing bridges spanning Catfish Creek and pavement, as well as improvements at the U.S. 52 intersection. Traffic will be in a two-lane, two-way configuration through the project.
Roadway: U.S. 20
County: Buchanan
U.S. 20 will be resurfaced from Iowa 150 at Independence to Iowa 187. Traffic will be maintained in a single lane in each direction.
Roadway: U.S. 20
County: Delaware
U.S. 20 will be resurfaced Iowa 38 in Delaware to Farley. Traffic will be maintained in a single lane in each direction.
South central/Southeast Iowa
Roadway: U.S. 34
Counties: Clarke and Union
U.S. 34 will be resurfaced with asphalt pavement from Union County Road P-64 in Thayer to I-35 in Clarke County. The work will be completed this year. Traffic will be maintained by flaggers and pilot cars.
Roadway: Interstate 35
County: Clarke
Two southbound I-35 bridges over Squaw Creek will be replaced, one 2.5 miles north of Iowa 152 and another 0.7 mile north of Iowa 152. Traffic will be in a two-lane, two-way configuration in the northbound lanes.
Roadway: Interstate 35
Counties: Clarke and Warren
I-35 from the Clarke County line north to St. Mary’s will have high-tension cable guardrail placed in the median. Traffic will be maintained in a single lane in each direction.
Roadway: Interstate 35
County: Decatur
Southbound I-35 from Iowa 2 north to the Clarke County line will be closed for reconstruction. Traffic will be maintained in a two-lane, two-way configuration in the northbound lanes.
Roadway: U.S. 34
County: Wapello
U.S. 34 will be resurfaced from the Monroe County line east to Ottumwa. Through traffic will be maintained by flaggers and pilot cars.
Roadway: U.S. 34
County: Wapello
The superstructures of the U.S. 34 bridge over the Des Moines River in Ottumwa will be replaced. Traffic will be in a two-lane, two-way configuration on the bridge.
Roadway: Interstate 35
County: Warren
Construction work will be starting on a two-year project on southbound I-35 from 1.6 miles south of Cumming (Warren County Road G-14) interchange north to Iowa 5. A variety of traffic control measures will be in effect, including traffic shifts; temporary lane and ramp closures with detours.
Roadway: Interstate 35
County: Warren
The southbound I-35 bridge over the North River will be replaced. Traffic will be in maintained during construction using the existing north- and southbound lanes.
Roadway: U.S. 65
County: Warren
U.S. 65 from Liberty Center north to the east junction of Warren County Road G-58 will have paved shoulders placed. Traffic will be maintained by flaggers and pilot cars.
Roadway: U.S. 65
County: Wayne
U.S. 65 will be resurfaced from the Missouri state line north to Iowa 2. Through traffic will be maintained by flaggers and pilot cars.
Roadway: U.S. 34
County: Des Moines
U.S. 34 in Burlington will have paved shoulders constructed from West Mount Pleasant Street to Main Street. Traffic will be maintained with single lane and shoulder closures.
The Eighth Street bridge over U.S. 34 in Burlington will be closed for repairs and traffic detoured.
The Central Avenue bridge over U.S. 34 in Burlington will be repaired and traffic maintained with temporary traffic signals and flaggers.
Roadway: U.S. 61
County: Muscatine
The U.S. 61 Muscatine bypass will have paved shoulders constructed from Iowa 92 to Iowa 38 using single lane and shoulder closures.
Roadway: Iowa 92
County: Muscatine
The Mississippi River bridge in Muscatine will be repaired. Traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals and flaggers.
Roadway: Iowa 22
County: Muscatine
Iowa 22 will be milled and resurfaced from east of Iowa 38 to the east corporate limits of Muscatine. Traffic will be maintained using flaggers and pilot cars.
Southwest Iowa
Roadway: Interstate 29
County: Pottawattamie
I-29/I-80 from the Missouri River bridge in Council Bluffs east approximately 3 miles to the Lake Manawa/South Expressway interchange will undergo grading, paving and bridge construction work. Through traffic will be maintained. Single lane closures may occur during off-peak hours.
I-29 from north of Council Bluffs to the Missouri Valley (U.S. 30) interchange will be resurfaced at several locations. Through traffic will be maintained in a single lane.
I-29 will be reconstructed from south of Council Bluffs to the Mills County line. One direction of travel will be constructed at a time, with traffic maintained in a two-way, two-lane operation.
Roadway: Interstate 80
County: Cass
The eastbound I-80 bridge over Indian Creek at milepost 50 (west of the Marne interchange) will be replaced. Traffic will be maintained in a two-lane, two-way operation in the westbound lanes.
Roadway: Interstate 80
County: Adair
The eastbound I-80 bridge over Middle River at milepost 85 (west of the Greenfield interchange) will be replaced. Traffic will be maintained in a two-lane, two-way operation in the westbound lanes.