September 28, 2025: Traffic moves on southbound US 218 at the intersection of 260th Street, with Easton Avenue behind the camera. On Monday, traffic switches to head-to-head in the existing northbound lanes (foreground). The position of this picture, once construction is done, will be just east of the east edge of a roundabout for 260th and the new northbound 218’s on/off ramps.
Today, US 218 traffic between Janesville and Waverly becomes head-to-head in the existing northbound lanes. This is to add paving connections for the future full traffic shift onto a new roadbed for the interchange north of Janesville.
Although this is only officially stage 2 of 7, this is a major advancement. Step 1 was closure of the east-west road and grading/paving every component of the new interchange that could be done without interfering with traffic on the present four-lane. Step 3 involves moving traffic to head-to-head in the new southbound lanes, over the bridge in the photo, while the east side of the interchange is built. That includes converting part of present northbound 218 into a frontage road, although the part seen above will be removed as the frontage road will bend to make room for a roundabout.
The Iowa DOT’s Bremer/Black Hawk County Facebook page has some aerial (probably drone) views of the interchange construction, but I can only see about one or two because I refuse to create a Facebook account.