Category Archives: Construction

The DOT released its newest five-year plan (large PDF) last week (stories: Gazette, Register) and the completion of two decade-long projects is in sight. Others have slight tweaks to their schedules or funding is being shifted around a bit in fiscal … Continue reading →

Those 3 1/2 months the new US 52 Mississippi River bridge was open are going to have to last a while, because construction nearby is getting worse. KWQC reports that because of drilling issues on replacement of the overflow bridge, … Continue reading →

KWQC has an update for the beginning of construction season, along with a video that shows piers up and roadbed being laid on the Iowa side. In order for more piers to be put up, the US 67 exit will … Continue reading →

June 25, 2006: For more than half a century, the 1½ mile fraction of a four-lane US 20, mostly with US 59, stood alone surrounded by two-lane roads. I put a photo of the other end of this segment with … Continue reading →

September 30, 1970: Initial construction stage of the I-80/I-380/US 218 interchange in Johnson County, via Iowa Geographic Map Server. It was built as a cloverleaf, but US 218 to the south would come after I-380 opened. You know it’s important … Continue reading →

I’m not quite sure why this isn’t listed on the DOT’s public information page, but this construction season is the first part of a two-year project to rebuild IA 122 in downtown Mason City. The KIMT story has views of … Continue reading →

July 15, 2007: Despite the difference in digits, these shields are the same size around. The east end of IA 8 is one of the few places left in Iowa where you see square US 218 shields as you drive … Continue reading →

Sidewalks are a good thing to have. In many towns, though, they could use some freshening up. However, a simple plan for improvements sooner or later will encounter the Americans With Disabilities Act. (And then there’s Windsor Heights, whose residents … Continue reading →

In the Transportation Commission’s March meeting this week, a transfer of jurisdiction for US 61 in Des Moines County was approved. But here’s the thing: It’s not the recently rerouted portion of 61 (which was in Louisa County). It’s not … Continue reading →

A DOT public meeting earlier this week (postponed from earlier because of bad weather) laid out two “study areas” for a US 30 bypass of Missouri Valley, and one of them is off the beaten path. Like, way off. Like, … Continue reading →