Category Archives: Construction

Sep 20

Kenyon Road bridges to be replaced

Excerpt from the Iowa State Highway Commission’s blueprints for “650′ continuous steel frame overhead crossing,” over what’s now South 7th Street, dated 1934. The Kenyon Road bridge(s) opened in 1936-37. Before that, US 20 crossed the Des Moines River on … Continue reading

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Sep 18

Council Bluffs interstate celebration today

An e-mail sent out last week to subscribers of the Council Bluffs Interstate System project is inviting the public to a celebration today (Sept. 18). The event is to mark the (almost) completion of the I-29/480 interchange, which had not … Continue reading

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Sep 06

Fast drivers create problems on I-80 in Dallas County

Interstate 80 through Dallas County has always had a notable sound as you drive on the concrete, although it’s not quite as distinctive as the freeway west of Adair. But there’s been a different kind of sound there this year, … Continue reading

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Sep 05

US 30 exit at IA 21 now open

Just in time for Labor Day weekend (hey, second post in a week starting like that), the DOT has completed a big part of a long-term project. The US 30 exit at IA 21 opened last Wednesday, the DOT said … Continue reading

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Sep 01

Final new I-80/380 exit ramps open

Just in time for Labor Day, the Iowa DOT is opening the final new ramps for the I-80/I-380 interchange. This project is ending three months ahead of schedule, the DOT said in an e-mail Tuesday. KWWL reported it happened by … Continue reading

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Aug 21

Nevada interchange meeting this week

As part of the conversion of US 30 between Ames and Nevada to a full freeway, the Iowa DOT plans to build an interchange on the west side of Nevada near the airport. The exit would not be completed until … Continue reading

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Aug 14

IA 906 decommissioned

July 24, 2019: This oversized US 6 shield was how the DOT initially signed US 6’s reroute onto I-80 on the east end of Council Bluffs. Straight ahead was IA 906, aka Kanesville Boulevard in the city. The Iowa Department … Continue reading

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Jul 21

Here comes the I-35 flyover ramp

The “Stage 3A” plan for the northeast mixmaster includes this sign on eastbound I-80. The present gantry has the BGS for the left exit on I-35 with a 45 mph limit. What has been perhaps Iowa’s most notorious left-hand interstate … Continue reading

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Jul 19

Boone portion of US 30 has freeway potential

The DOT had a public meeting June 23 about long-term plans to convert US 30 between Boone and the Lincoln Way exits into a full freeway. This is in keeping with plans to do the same on 30 between Ames … Continue reading

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Jul 14

Notes on 2024-28 DOT five-year plan: Polk County

Final segment of the 2024-28 construction plan, approved last month: A segment of I-80 east of the northeast mixmaster to US 65, with construction in 2025-27, is mistakenly labeled as I-35 again this year. There is a separate line for … Continue reading

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