Category Archives: Construction

Apr 06

Finally, a plan to six-lane I-35 to Ames

Next Tuesday in Huxley, the DOT will have a meeting about a project that’s at least 10 and probably 20 years overdue — upgrading I-35 to six lanes between Ankeny and Ames. This would be the first rural six-lane interstate … Continue reading

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Mar 31

A light at the end of the tunnel for I-29 in Sioux City

June 12, 2005: I-29 at the downtown exit in Sioux City, not too long before the state started a project to rebuild and expand the interstate through the city. The first photo with the news story linked below shows this … Continue reading

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Mar 22

Closing off an ancient curve, and Centerville’s IA 60 history

  Appanoose County in the 1948 (left/top) and 1951 Iowa Highway Commission state maps. Notice the non-existence of Lake Rathbun. Drake Avenue is shown as the north-south piece of IA 277, but it actually belonged to IA 60, as you will … Continue reading

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Mar 17

US 20 detour starts next week

The detour for US 20 in western Iowa that originally was going to last through two winters but then discontinued will restart Monday, the Iowa DOT says in a press release. Construction will go on throughout the year, pushing ever … Continue reading

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Mar 10

IA 175 interchange reconstruction meeting set

The Iowa DOT will have a public meeting March 14 about converting the IA 175 interchange at Ellsworth from a folded diamond to a regular diamond. The original plan was designed for a railroad that’s not there anymore. Construction is … Continue reading

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Mar 02

Rider Corner meeting March 9

The addition of a flyover ramp from northbound I-35/80 to IA 141 and two ramps to/from Meredith Drive are the subjects of a DOT meeting March 9 in Urbandale. Three maps and two HD animated renderings are at the PIM … Continue reading

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Feb 24

West Broadway reconstruction starts in March

While US 6 signs may not be prevalent along its new route via I-80 in Council Bluffs, the city is moving ahead with rebuilding West Broadway, the Nonpareil reports. The city will use the $20 million the state gave it … Continue reading

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Feb 23

M Avenue bridges near Traer to be replaced in 2018

October 30, 2015: The northern of two 1915 bridges on M Avenue, border between Crystal and Perry townships, across Four Mile Creek (which is longer than that). The southern bridge is across Wolf Creek. Hyper, hyper, hyper-local. — Ed. Two … Continue reading

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Jan 30

Finally four-laning Northeast 14th Street?

The Iowa DOT has scheduled a meeting Tuesday to “discuss proposed improvements of U.S. 69” between I-80 and the south side of Ankeny. There’s nothing else mentioned on the PIM page, but this pretty much has to be about upgrading … Continue reading

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Jan 16

How do you ‘rebrand’ a corner?

The federal government gave the final approval last week to redo the I-35/80 interchange with IA 141 and add ramps at Meredith Drive, the Des Moines Register reports. Here’s the nugget that makes it weird: The interchange is located at … Continue reading

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