Road construction projects could delay some motorists travel plans through Iowa this holiday weekend. Mark Bortle with the Iowa Department of Transportation says a lot of work is being done this summer to repair or improve Iowa’s interstates.
“We caution motorists, due to the higher than normal traffic volumes, we could experience backups and delays,” Bortle said. “Watch out for those warning signs and the potential for backup traffic at those interstate projects.” One of the busiest areas for possible construction delays is along Interstate 29 in western Iowa.
“Basically anywhere from the Missouri border up to the South Dakota border we have multiple work zones on that project where we either have traffic in one lane or traffic in a single lane in each direction on one side of the median while we reconstruct the other side,” Bortle said.
On Interstate 35, traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction through central Iowa between Iowa Highway 175 and U.S. Highway 20. In southern Iowa, I-35 is reduced to head-to-head traffic for 10 miles through Decatur County. On Interstate 80, traffic is restricted around Iowa City for median pavement work.
“Also on I-80, on the Cedar River Bridge in Cedar County, we’re shifting traffic in that area but we’re maintaining two lanes of traffic in each direction,” Bortle said. Motorists who are traveling between Iowa and Illinois on I-80 can also expect delays. The I-80 bridge spanning the Mississippi River is under repair and traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction.
Traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. Bortle is also reminding motorists of new state laws that took effect this week which ban texting while driving and require all persons under the age of 18 to be buckled up – regardless of where they’re sitting in the vehicle.
More information on road construction projects in Iowa can be found online at www.511ia.org or by calling 5-1-1.