Category Archives: Construction

Aug 31

Meeting reveals I-29/480 interchange final plans

Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

On Aug. 15, the DOT held a meeting in Council Bluffs to go over the proposal for, and final environmental assessment of, a completely redone I-29/I-480 interchange in Council Bluffs. As you can see in the handout (PDF), the “interchange … Continue reading →

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Aug 30

Interstate system extends around Carson City

Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The trivia question about state capitals not on the interstate system got a different answer in 2012, and now the connection is complete. The final segment of I-580 running south from Reno to Carson City NV opened Aug. 2. (Interstate … Continue reading →

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Aug 29

Second I-80 “public meeting” video online

Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The DOT’s “I-80 Planning Study Public Meeting #2” video, about 11 minutes long, is online. It has had fewer than 400 views since being uploaded to YouTube a month ago. Perhaps I can help with that: For some reason, all … Continue reading →

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Aug 22

‘Microorganism’ clogs underpass drain in Waterloo

Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The US 63 railroad underpass north of downtown Waterloo often has water in it, and it’s not just because it’s a low spot. There’s a microorganism that interferes with the draining, a DOT engineer tells KWWL. In the next two … Continue reading →

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Aug 15

‘Prioritization’ for four-lane US 30 segments

Posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Last week’s Iowa Transportation Commission meeting included approval of “U.S. 30 Corridor Prioritization,” a designation that doesn’t mean anything concrete yet on a timeline or funding. Stories: KWQC (above, misidentifying “Iowa Highway 30” at the start), KCRG (using KWQC’s footage). … Continue reading →

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Aug 14

Cedar Rapids converting Second Avenue to two-way

Posted on Monday, August 14, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Starting today, Cedar Rapids will being converting Second Avenue from one-way to two-way in downtown. This is one block east of Business 151. It’s going to take a while because the city is going to add “bump-outs” — things on … Continue reading →

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Aug 07

Lansing bridge meeting Tuesday

Posted on Monday, August 7, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

April 17, 2015: Iowa end of the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing. Many more pictures of the bridge and intersection are on my Lansing page. The bridge piers are 120 feet too close to each other for modern navigation standards. … Continue reading →

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Aug 04

Does US 30 need four-laning in eastern Iowa?

Posted on Friday, August 4, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Ever since the mid-1960s, US 30 has been viewed as an eventual four-lane corridor across the state of Iowa. Over the years, it’s been improved in fits and phases across eastern and central Iowa, while the western part has fallen … Continue reading →

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Jul 18

The Peosta not-quite-freeway

Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The future Southwest Arterial and Swiss Valley Road interchanges planned on US 20 southwest of Dubuque will cut down, but not eliminate, at-grade intersections between the west side of Dubuque and Peosta. There was a public meeting last month on … Continue reading →

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Jun 14

I-380 construction will split travel lanes

Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

While traveling in Kentucky last year, I encountered a road construction phenomenon I haven’t seen often, if at all. While a rural interstate was being expanded to three lanes in each direction, an on-site detour had one lane of traffic … Continue reading →

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