Category Archives: Construction

Jun 25

Missouri makes clinching US 61 more difficult for me

June 23, 2014: Facing south, but heading north, on US 61 at I-55, Scott City, Missouri. US 61 in Missouri is two very different highways. North of St. Louis, it is part of the Avenue of the Saints, a project that … Continue reading

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Jun 17

I-80 plan puts double roundabout at Hoover exit

Roundabouts are bad enough, but a double roundabout at a diamond interchange is perhaps the stupidest construction “innovation” of the past decade. Wisconsin adores them; the new(ish) US 12 from Baraboo to Wisconsin Dells is infested with such pairs. This … Continue reading

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Jun 12

When US 52 changes, IA 136 won’t

More than two years ago, the city of Dubuque and the Iowa DOT agreed on road swaps in relation to the Southwest Arterial. Six years after serious rumblings began about the city taking the project on for itself, we’re less … Continue reading

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May 28

Planning to replace the Gordon Drive Viaduct

The Gordon Drive Viaduct in Sioux City, whose original structure is 83 years old, has been on lists of bridges most in need of replacement in Iowa. The Iowa DOT is starting work on its replacement. These stories from KTIV … Continue reading

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May 24

Analysis of 2020-24 Iowa DOT five-year plan

For this look at the upcoming five-year plan, not everything new is mentioned and not everything previously in is mentioned. Years are fiscal years as listed in the draft program (large PDF; scroll to near the bottom for the highway … Continue reading

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May 15

Southwest Arterial behind schedule

Despite the headline on this KWWL story, Dubuque’s Southwest Arterial is going to take a little while longer. City officials had been hoping for completion of the road by the end of this year’s construction season. But the wet, cold … Continue reading

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May 14

The ghost of IA 402

Added to the DOT’s five-year plan last year, for work this year, is a resurfacing project for IA 21 from IA 8 to US 20. It’s your typical hot-mix asphalt, flaggers ahead, etc., but the December letting packet had a … Continue reading

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May 08

Dubuque Southwest Arterial update

From the city of Dubuque on YouTube.

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May 02

The most conflicting intersections

Four intersections between four-lane expressways and county roads have been singled out for extra warning signs this year. In the April DOT letting there’s a contract for “Intersection Conflict Warning Systems.” A diagram shows inclusion of cameras, turn detectors, and … Continue reading

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Apr 30

I-80/380 meeting Tuesday night

For those who are looking forward to their commutes between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids the next five years or so, tonight is your chance to find out just how bad things are going to START getting. There’s a meeting … Continue reading

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