Category Archives: Construction

Mar 01

US 63 closing for two years in northern Waterloo

Posted on Thursday, March 1, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Fifty-five years after a railroad underpass opened to save US 63 from an at-grade intersection, the process is going to be reversed. The Iowa DOT says US 63 will close Monday from US 218 to Airline Highway (official) and Franklin to … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on US 63 closing for two years in northern Waterloo
Feb 15

Yes, they’re really going to cram a SPUI in there

Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I’ve looked at the entire letting document for the IA 27/58 interchange at Viking Road in Cedar Falls and I continue to marvel at the idea. The document, nearly 400 pages long, was released ahead of the official letting on … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Yes, they’re really going to cram a SPUI in there
Feb 12

Suggestion: Rebuild Northeast 14th — then reroute US 69

Posted on Monday, February 12, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Tuesday night there will be a meeting for a project years or decades overdue: Expanding US 69, aka Northeast 14th Street, between I-80 and Ankeny to four lanes (PDF). It’s in the part of Polk County that officially is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Suggestion: Rebuild Northeast 14th — then reroute US 69
Feb 07

Animated annual report for Council Bluffs interstate project

Posted on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Iowa DOT has put out its review of the 2017 construction season for the Council Bluffs interstate project. A lot has been done, but there is so much more to go. The biggest development was the opening of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Animated annual report for Council Bluffs interstate project
Dec 20

50th anniversary of four-lane 63 in Traer

Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

With the calendar ticking down toward 2018, I don’t have much space left to cover an anniversary I kept putting off. US 63 was four-laned through Traer in 1967. Structures were far enough from the road that there were no … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Tama County | Comments Off on 50th anniversary of four-lane 63 in Traer
Dec 11

IA 100 signs at I-380 to be replaced

Posted on Monday, December 11, 2017, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

Buried in the bid lettings for August 2017 was a sign contract mostly centered around the IA 100 interchange with I-380. There’s a significant difference in the new signs — Cedar Rapids has been replaced with Iowa City for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on IA 100 signs at I-380 to be replaced
Dec 08

US 61 Grandview bypass update

Posted on Friday, December 8, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Correcting here and there: The expectation of four-lane US 61 opening around Grandview, extending the four-lane south from the Louisa/Muscatine county line, did not happen until December 1, Jason Hancock says. I should have put a question mark on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on US 61 Grandview bypass update
Dec 01

DOT wants US 30 interchange at R70

Posted on Friday, December 1, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Next Tuesday, the DOT will hold a meeting in Ames about closing off intersections on US 30 just east of I-35 in favor of an interchange. Substantial lengths of frontage road will have to be built in order to serve … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on DOT wants US 30 interchange at R70
Nov 28

Grandview bypass opened last week – UPDATED

Posted on Tuesday, November 28, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Muscatine Journal‘s coverage of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors earlier this month had a single paragraph mentioning that US 61 from the county line to 130th Street was expected to open Nov. 20. The new four-lane includes interchanges … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Grandview bypass opened last week – UPDATED
Nov 22

Grand Junction overpass finished

Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

US 30 on the east side of Grand Junction opened a week ago (via Greene County News Online).

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Grand Junction overpass finished