The Iowa DOT has announced that starting tomorrow, US 20 between the US 63 and IA 21 exits will move to head-to-head traffic to remove and replace the pavement in the eastbound lanes. (Is it Infrastructure Week here? — Ed.)
The press release states that this phase will last until July, and then I presume the same will happen to the westbound lanes. The first concrete here was laid in 1984, but not signed as part of 20 until 1986. I don’t know if there has been a complete replacement in between.
There will not be temporary connections from the ramps, judging by the release. Instead, all ramps on/off eastbound 20 will be closed at 63, 21, and Ansborough Avenue. Official detours will come later. I think that the best connection between 63 and the Crossroads Mall area would be to cut across D52 or D35 to 21. (To head to Dubuque, 21 to Shaulis Road — there’s a stoplight there now — to 218 near the casino.)
I think this project will preclude a photo refresh of those interchanges this year. I know the Waterloo area could use one.